(PRWEB) November 01, 2015
Developed and formulated by eye health experts for patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, MacuHealth® PLUS+ provides all of the benefits of the AREDS2* recommended supplement, with two important distinctions:
1. it is fortified with meso-zeaxanthin
2. it contains a lower level of zinc; 25mg instead of 80mg
“The AREDS2 study was the most important study to be published in recent years,” says Professor Stephen Beatty, (Ophthalmic Surgeon), Institute of Eye Surgery, Ireland, “on the role of nutrition in Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This study demonstrated a clear benefit to those with AMD who take supplements containing macular carotenoids.”
Since the completion of the AREDS2 study, we have advanced our knowledge through new scientific research about the important role carotenoids play in protecting the macula and filtering damaging blue light. “Meso-zeaxanthin, a sister carotenoid to lutein and zeaxanthin, was not well known in 2008 when the AREDS2 study began,” explained Professor John Nolan, Fulbright Scholar and Principle Investigator of the Macular Pigment Research Group. “Over the last 8 years important research has discovered that meso-zeaxanthin is the most potent antioxidant of the three macular carotenoids and it is primarily concentrated in the epicenter (fovea) of the macula. We know that supplementing with the three carotenoids gives best results in terms of serum carotenoid augmentation, macular pigment augmentation, and improvement in visual performance, for patients with AMD.1,2,3,4 It only makes sense that all three critical carotenoids are included in a new supplement for AMD patients.”
The second distinction in MacuHealth PLUS+ is the reduction of zinc from 80mg to 25mg. Of note, AREDS2 has shown that there was no significant difference between the AMD groups who received 25mg of zinc when compared to those that received 80mg of zinc. In addition, a lower 25mg daily dosage of zinc complies with the European Food Safety Authority** (EFSA) which falls within the upper tolerable recommended daily allowance (RDA) recommended by the NIH**. These facts, as well as the need to reduce risk of AMD progression for patients with a particular genotype5 added further to our decision to recommend a lower 25mg dose for patients with AMD.
When recommending MacuHealth PLUS+ to your patients with AMD, eye care professionals can be sure that their patients are benefiting from the AREDS2 formulation, without recourse to complex genetic testing, and can be confident their patients are taking full advantage of the benefits of using all three macular carotenoids.
Stop by the MacuHealth Booth #2870 to learn more. Find out how you can win an APPLE WATCH!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
David Israel 858-381-4950
1. B. Li. F. Ahmed and P. S. Bernstein, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 2010; 504:56-60
2. R. A. Bone et al., Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci. 1988; 29(6): 843-849
3. J. M. Nolan et al., Exp. Eye. Res. 2012; 101:9-15
4. D. I. Thurman et al., Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 2015; 253(8): 1231-1243
5. C. C. Awh, S. Hawken and B. W. Zanke. Ophthalmology. 2015; 122(1): 162-169
*AREDS2 is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
**http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
**http://www.nih.gov/