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Lutein I care™ Antioxidant... Antioxidant Macular Support* with Beta Carotene, Zinc & Copper Highlights
Eye Health & Free RadicalsProper
nutritional support for the retina and lens is critical to maintaining
healthy eyes. Several factors such as smoking, diabetes, injury,
supplemental steroids, excess exposure to pollution, sunlight or radiation
can all damage parts of the eye. Most of these factors create free
radicals that can damage the delicate structures of the eye and result in
poor eyesight. Phytonutrients and antioxidants from food and supplements
can protect our eyes from these damaging free radicals by neutralizing, or
“scavenging” them.*1 Lutein I care Benefits Carotenes:
There is much interest in carotenoids as protective factors for
maintaining good eye health. Lutein
and zeaxanthin are specific carotenoids that are concentrated in the
yellow pigment in the macula and appear to specifically protect the
macula.*2
Like beta carotene, the more well-known carotenoid, lutein
and zeaxanthin are also potent antioxidants. A
large multicenter human study looked at the relationship between lutein
and zeaxanthin, among other nutrients, and protection of the macula. The
researchers found that people eating 5.8 mg per day of lutein and
zeaxanthin from dietary sources are much more likely to have healthy,
undamaged macula.*2
That’s almost 3 cups (1
ounce) of fresh, chopped spinach every
day. In the Nurses’ Health Study, involving over 100,000 nurses,
significant protection for the lens of the eye was also evident from
eating spinach. The researchers suggested that lutein may be the
protective carotenoid in spinach.*3 Another
study determined that people supplementing with the equivalent of 30 mg
per day of lutein raised lutein levels, or density, of the macular
pigment.*4
Nature’s Life
Lutein i care™ Antioxidant supplement also contains natural beta
carotene, alpha carotene and cryptoxanthin in addition to lutein and
zeaxanthin. Foods high in carotenoids have also been linked to
maintenance of unclouded, transparent lenses.*5
Researchers report that people who eat a diet high in these
carotenoids have healthier retinas and maculas.*2,6 Minerals: Zinc activates two critical enzymes, retinol dehydrogenase
and catalase.7 Retinol dehydrogenase converts vitamin A to the more active
form used in visual purple. Seeing well in dim light requires adequate
amounts of visual purple. The inability of people with liver damage to see
well at night has been linked to abnormal zinc metabolism.7
The enzyme catalase is an antioxidant enzyme that also protects the
eye from oxidative damage.*7 Both of the essential minerals zinc and copper are crucial for general eye function and to produce the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD).*8 Zinc’s ability to activate this key antioxidant enzyme may play a critical role in protecting the macula and the lens from oxidative damage resulting from sunlight.* Ingredient HighlightsNature’s
Life uses only FloraGLO brand lutein from Kemin® Foods in Lutein i care™ Antioxidant. FloraGLO
Lutein is a bright yellow-orange pigment naturally extracted, purified and
crystallized from marigold petals (Tagetes erecta) providing standardized amounts of lutein and
zeaxanthin. Vitamin E, rosemary and citric acid add natural protection for
the delicate carotenoids to ensure maximum potency. In foods lutein and
zeaxanthin are found abundantly in spinach, kale, broccoli and other green
leafy vegetables, as well as papaya and mango. Nature's
Life uses only natural marine source carotenes derived from the unique
microalgae, Dunaliella salina.
Unlike synthetic all trans-beta-carotene, natural beta-carotene is a mixture of cis
and trans forms. Standardized D.
salina from Henkel® contains cis-
and trans-beta-carotene in a
concentrated 50%/50% mixture. Zinc
gluconate and copper gluconate are readily absorbed and used by the body.
Studies of elderly populations have found that few people get enough zinc
in their diets (7-10 mg daily is typical). Elderly low-income people are
at real risk of consuming less than 50% of the RDI for zinc.9 While severe zinc deficiency is rare in the U.S., marginal
deficiencies are increasingly common. Fiber in food hampers zinc
absorption.9
Taking copper promotes the synthesis of super oxide
dismutase (SOD).10
Oral SOD supplements are very poorly absorbed, and SOD supplements
are not recommended.11 References
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How do we see? Sight begins as light passes through the cornea to the lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye (especially the macula and the fovea, which is at the very center of the retina). The retina’s nerve receptors are stimulated by light and send impulses to the brain where they are converted into mental images. Nutrition plays a critical role in all aspects of vision — including the ability to focus and to see at night, and the defense of delicate tissues of the lens and retina against oxidative damage.* Poor Vision Explained Poor vision is a serious problem which many people face as they age. Annual medical costs for eye care in America exceed 3 billion dollars in Medicare funds alone. Eighteen percent of Americans over age 65 and forty-six percent over age 75 have been found to have clouded lenses which obscure their vision.1,2 Approximately twenty-five percent of Americans over age 65 experience damage to their retinas which reduces their ability to see clearly.3 Several lifestyle factors such as smoking, diabetes, injury, steroids, excess exposure to smoke, air pollution, sunlight or radiation, and simply growing older can damage cells in the eye. That’s because most of these factors create dangerous free radicals, which can result in poor eyesight. Free radicals in the eye are tiny particles created by light that react with other substances in the eye, causing damage. Maintaining a Healthy Eye The ability to see is a tremendous gift, and it all depends on a delicate balance of exquisitely designed parts. One of the keys to maintaining a healthy eye lies in proper nutritional support for the retina and the lens. Specific nutrients are required for each part to work properly. Nature’s Life offers two comprehensive formulas to provide these essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to help protect our eyes from damaging free radicals by neutralizing, or “scavenging” them.* Bilberry
i sight™ Antioxidant Formula Lutein i care™ Antioxidant Formula People with low blood levels of
antioxidants or who eat limited amounts of antioxidant-rich fruits and
vegetables are more likely to lose the transparency found in healthy
lenses.4,5 Two research
groups found that people with healthy maculae were more likely to have
high blood levels of antioxidants.6,7 The
Role of Beta Carotene
Beta carotene, often called the “safer” form of vitamin A, is a powerful antioxidant nutrient. In the Nurse’s Health Study, published in 1992, foods high in beta carotene were linked to the maintenance of transparent lenses.*8 People in this study who supplemented with extra beta carotene for over ten years were much more likely to have healthy lenses.*6 Low blood levels of beta carotene were clearly associated with a higher risk for developing clouded lenses.*6 Antioxidant protection from light-induced damage may be an important part of beta carotene’s function in protecting the macula.* Researchers report that people who eat a diet high in beta carotene and other carotenoids have less damage to their macula.*9 This protective effect has also been reported for total carotenoids including alpha carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin.*7 Lutein & Zeaxanthin Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids (like beta carotene) found abundantly in spinach, kale, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, papayas and mangos.10 They are not easily converted to vitamin A (like beta carotene) but they do have potent antioxidant activity.* These carotenoids concentrate in the yellow pigment in the retina and appear to specifically protect the macula and fovea against oxidative damage.*7 Researchers have discovered two important facts about these carotenoids: 1. The body works hard to concentrate lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula and fovea of the retina.11 2. Lutein and zeaxanthin provide potent antioxidant protection against singlet oxygen free radicals which damage the macula and fovea.*11 A multicenter Eye Disease Case-Control Study looked at the relationship between lutein, zeaxanthin and protection of the macula. People eating a total of 5.8 mg per day of lutein and zeaxanthin from dietary sources are much more likely to have healthy, undamaged macula.*7 That’s the equivalent of about 3 cups of chopped fresh spinach every day! Vitamins In two studies, people with healthy, clear, transparent lenses were more likely to be taking vitamin C and vitamin E supplements than were people with clouded lenses.*8,12,13 Researchers found that people who supplemented with at least 300 mg of vitamin C enjoyed a 50-70% decrease in the risk for clouding of the lens.*12 Both studies found these associations with supplements, not just from vitamin-C rich foods. A Canadian study tested 152 people with clear lenses and 152 people with clouded lenses and found that those taking vitamin E supplements had 56% less risk of clouded lenses.*12 This study showed that the more vitamin E taken the greater the level of lens protection.* This “dose/response relationship” is considered to be powerful scientific evidence. Vitamin E also helps maintain levels of the important antioxidant glutathione.*14 While the association between high intake of vitamin E supplements and lens clarity has recently been confirmed,15 supplements of only 50 IU per day of vitamin E have not been found to be effective.*16 Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is generally not thought of as an antioxidant, but the antioxidant glutathione needs enough vitamin B2 so it can be reactivated as glutathione reductase (an important antioxidant enzyme).* When levels of glutathione reductase fall, the lens loses its transparency.*17 In China, people with healthy lenses were given daily doses of 3 mg of B2 and 40 mg of B3 (Niacin) or a placebo and followed for years. At the end of the study, those taking the B vitamins were much more likely to have maintained normal lens clarity and transparency.*18 Visionary Minerals In terms of eye health, the main function of zinc is to activate two critical enzymes, retinol dehydrogenase and catalase,19 which are used to mobilize stored vitamin A from the liver and convert it, thus allowing “seeing” to occur.* Insufficient zinc reduces blood levels of vitamin A, which can impair vision.* The inability of people with liver damage to see well at night has been linked to zinc deficiency.* Copper is needed to activate superoxide dismutase (SOD), a major antioxidant enzyme found in the lens.*20 Herbal Antioxidants The fruit of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) contains unique blue/violet bioflavonoids called anthocyanosides. These phytonutrients offer potent antioxidant protection against free-radical damage.* Bioflavonoids also reduce the activity of aldose reductase,*21 as aldose reductase allows the lens (and retina) to accumulate unhealthy levels of naturally occurring sugars which can cause damage to the retina.*22 In a study
of 116 people, both night vision and the ability to see after exposure
to glare were maintained after taking 300 mg/day of standardized
bilberry extract.*23 These
effects were reported in healthy people, suggesting that constituents of
bilberry play a functional role in promoting good vision,* though the
mechanism is not yet understood. Standardized
bilberry extracts have also been reported to protect the lens from
losing its transparency.*24 This protection probably comes from the
antioxidant activity of anthocyanosides guarding against free-radical
damage to the lens.* Protecting the eye: the big picture Old age may be inevitable but vision loss may not be. Eat lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, avoid smoking, overexposure to pollution, sunlight and radiation, and take Nature’s Life Lutein i care™ and Bilberry i sight™ to maintain healthy, clear eyes.* Nature’s Life® BILBERRY i sight™ Provides antioxidant vitamins and phytonutrients to protect the lens of the eye against the damaging effects of light-induced free radicals:* Nature’s
Life® LUTEIN i care™ Provides antioxidant
vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to protect the retina of the eye,
especially the macula, against the damaging effects of light-induced
singlet oxygen free radicals.* References
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Supplemental Information
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin Dietary Supplements Raise Macular Pigment Density
- Vision and Macular Health - from Source Naturals
- New* - Best Lutein Featuring Biolut Marigold Ext., 60 VC
- Zeaxanthin with Lutein - The clearly-seen benefits of advanced eye protection
- Lutein - The Antiordinary Antioxidant
- Lutein eases blocked blood flow to eyes