[Jimbee (OP)]

I know they're not now. But will Lutein and Zeaxanthin ever be considered vitamins? Do some consider them that now?

Because I know there are a lot of nutrients, like phytonutrients, antioxidants, and even amino acids some say, that are important in human nutrition. Some are even necessary. But they aren't officially vitamins. Plus I think vitamins were first isolated, with Vitamin C, in the 1920's (although Scottish physician James Lind had demonstrated that the disease scurvy could be treated by citrus fruits by the 1740's).

(BTW, my eye doctor can't even pronounce the word Zeaxanthin. Or at least she told me once she just pronounces it differently. You know, George W. Bush couldn't pronounce "nuclear". But it was later revealed he got higher grades in college than his 2000 presidential opponent Al Gore. So I don't know anymore.)

[paul cotter]

As you seem to know now they are not vitamins, they are classed as carotenoids. However carotenoids can be split to yield vitamin A and as such can have vitamin activity. Many claims for health benefits exist for various carotenoids in addition to their pro-vitamin A activity but I don't know how many of these claims stand up to scientific scrutiny.