Zeaxanthin is a dietary carotenoid that accumulates in the retina (particularly the macula) and has antioxidant activity that may improve obesity, prevent age-related macular degeneration, and protect against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Zeaxanthin dipalmitate (Physalien) is a lutein carotenoid found in fruits with anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-oxidative stress activity that attenuates ethanol-induced liver injury.Zeaxanthin dipalmitate restores mitochondrial autophagy, a function that has been inhibited by ethanol intoxication. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate protects degenerated photoreceptors in the retina of mice and improves visual acuity in a mouse model of photoreceptor degeneration, and may be used in studies of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).