Purpose: Lutein and zeaxanthin are macular pigments with a protective function in the retina. These xanthophylls must be obtained from the diet or added to foods or supplements via easy-to-use, stable formulations. The technique employed to produce these formulations may affect the bioavailability of the xanthophylls. Methods: Forty-eight healthy volunteers were randomized into this double-blind, cross-over study investigating the plasma kinetics of lutein provided as two different beadlet formulations. Subjects ( n = 48) received a single dose of 20 mg of lutein as either a starch-matrix ('SMB', FloraGLO Lutein 5 %) or as a cross-linked alginate-matrix beadlet ('AMB', Lyc-O-Lutein 20 %) formulation. Plasma concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin were measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 14, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 48, 72, 168, and 672 h. Results: The mean plasma AUC, AUC, and C for total lutein and zeaxanthin and their all- E-isomers were significantly increased ( p < 0.001) from pre-dose concentrations in response to SMB and AMB. There was no difference in lutein T between the two test articles. However, by 14 h post-dose, total plasma lutein increased by 7 % with AMB and by 126 % with SMB. Total lutein AUC and AUC were 1.8-fold and 1.3-fold higher, respectively, for SMB compared to AMB. Both formulations were well tolerated by subjects in this study. Conclusion: These findings confirm that the bioavailability of lutein and zeaxanthin critically depends on the formulation used and document a superiority of the starch-based over the alginate-based product in this study.