Introducing Vision MX
Comprehensive vision formula + BILBERRY & LUTEIN and more...
Vision MX Formula is a synergistic formulation containing vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutrients that are essential for supporting healthy eyes. It also contains important antioxidants that protect against free radical damage in the macular region, retina and lens of the eye. Vision MX Formula provides vital nutrition for the healthy functioning of the eye and vision.
Vision MX Formula is a comprehensive vision supplement that contains important nutrients and antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties
These are beneficial for protecting the eyes against the progression of macular degeneration, cataracts, lens opacities, night blindness, and retinal diseases. It also contains ingredients that are useful for increasing blood flow and retinal function recovery. Vision MX Formula is designed to provide enhanced nutrition for supporting healthy eyes and good vision. The following ingredients give a better idea of the product's benefits...
Grape seed
Grape seed contains a high level of proanthocyanidins, also known as OPCs, which belong to the flavonoid family, a class of water-soluble plant pigments. OPCs have antioxidant activity and they play a role in the stabilization of collagen and maintenance of elastin. These two proteins are found in connective tissues that support organs, joints, blood vessels and muscle. OPCs have been shown to strengthen capillaries, improve aspects of vision, and prevent abnormal blood clotting in smokers.
In Japan, the anti-cataract activity of OPCs from grape seed extract was investigated in hereditary cataractous rats. The results suggest that OPCs and their antioxidative metabolites prevented the progression of cataract formation by their antioxidative action. Hence supplementation of OPCs from grape seed extract may offer protection against progression of cataract.
Bilberry
Bilberry has a long history of use, both as food and medicine. Its use was acknowledged when Second World War pilots noticed their night vision improved after they ate bilberry. Since then, bilberry has been used for various eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degenerations, as well as blood vessel problems including varicose veins and ulcers. Bilberry has antioxidant actions, and helps to strengthen capillaries and relax smooth muscle.
Russian researchers explored that supplementation of bilberry extract prevented impairments in the lenses and retina in senesce-accelerated OXYS rats, which was used as models for macular degeneration and senile cataract. The findings indicate that long-term supplementation with bilberry extract is useful in the prevention of macular degeneration and cataract, which are the major cause of blindness and acuity of vision deterioration in the elderly.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is the world’s oldest living tree species. Its leaves have been used in modern herbal medicine. Ginkgo has many valuable effects including stabilising cell membranes, reducing free radical damage, improving blood circulation and enhancing oxygen and glucose use. It is particularly beneficial for brain, nerves and blood vessels.
A double-blinded trial was conducted in ten outpatients with senile macular degeneration in France comparing Ginkgo Biloba extract (GBE) with placebo. There was a statistically significant improvement in long distance visual acuity in those taking Ginkgo Biloba Extract.
In Italy, the effect of GBE was evaluated on pre-existing visual field damage in normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Twenty-seven patients with bilateral visual field damage resulting from NTG were involved in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover trial.
At the end of the trial, there was a significant improvement in visual fields indices in patients taking GBE. Supplementation of GBE appears to improve pre-existing visual field damage in some patients with NTG.
These two findings demonstrate that Ginkgo Biloba Extract may be a useful aid in individuals suffering from macular degeneration or normal tension glaucoma.
Marigold
Marigold also known as Calendula, has been used in salads, medicines and skin creams. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal and wound- healing properties. Marigold is a useful digestive remedy and helps with muscle spasm, menstrual problems and skin diseases. It provides Lutein, which is the primary carotenoid present in the central area of the retina called the macula.
Berendschot T.T. et al conducted a study to determine the extent of changes in the macular pigment density as a consequence of oral supplementation with lutein. Eight subjects participated in the study. They supplemented with lutein daily for 12 weeks and their plasma lutein concentration was measured at 4-week intervals.
After 4 weeks, the mean blood level of lutein had an increase and stayed at this level throughout the intake period and declined 4 weeks after termination. The measurement of the density of macular pigment also showed an increase after lutein supplementation. With the benefit of increasing the density of macular pigment, lutein supplementation may have an influence on protecting against age-related macular degeneration.
Eyebright
Eyebright has been known throughout history as a popular remedy for eye irritations and disorders, such as eye inflammation, conjunctivitis and blepharitis. This herb is beneficial for poor vision, eye strain, eye infections, sensitivity to light, and eye ulcers. The flavonoids in eyebright act as anti- inflammatory agents that can help relieve inflamed mucous membranes of the eyes, sinuses, and upper respiratory tract.
Eyebright's astringent properties also help reduce inflammation and mucous drainage, making the plant a popular remedy for many allergy, cold, and sinus symptoms. It is also useful for coughs, colds, allergies, sinusitis, hay fever, earaches, headaches, jaundice, throat and bronchial congestion, hoarseness, flu, and sinus inflammation.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene (Pro-vitamin A) is a substance from plants, such as dark green and orange-yellow vegetables, that the body converts into vitamin A as the body requires. It acts as an antioxidant and helps to protect the body against heart disease, cancer, eye damage and other disorders. Beta-carotene also functions as an immune system booster.
In a cross-sectional survey of 5420 children in northern Bangladesh, 124 were reported to have night blindness by their parents. The diagnosis of night blindness and serum vitamin A levels were determined. It was found that the mean serum vitamin A level was lowest among children identified as night blind by both their parents and the investigators and highest among those identified as not night blind by both their parents and the investigators. This finding illustrated that raising serum vitamin A level is an important factor for alleviating night blindness.
Researchers from the Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at US Food and Drug Administration studied the uptake of beta-carotene and effects on intracellular levels of retinol, Vitamin A, in cell lines of varied origin. The results demonstrated that a wide variety of cells, cultured in vitro, were able to convert beta-carotene to retinol. This result supports that supplementation of beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A which in turn helps to increase serum vitamin A level and aid with night blindness.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin that has a number of biological functions. Acting as an antioxidant, one of vitamin C’s important functions is to protect LDL cholesterol from oxidative damage. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, a protein that forms the basis of connective tissues such as bones, teeth and cartilage, and strengthens muscles and blood vessels. It plays important roles in wound healing and acts as a natural antihistamine. Vitamin C is essential for maintaining healthy immune and nervous systems.
Hegde K.R. and Varma S.D. conducted a study to determine if high ascorbate of the human aqueous protects the lens against oxidative stress. The experiment was done with the mouse lens, a species deficient in aldose reductase (AR), an important antioxidant. The reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced physiological damage to the tissue was assessed in organ culture, by measuring its ability to actively transport 86Rb(+) ions, in the absence and presence of ascorbate. In addition, the status of tissue metabolism and its antioxidant reserve were assessed by measuring the levels of ATP and glutathione (GSH).
As expected, ROS decreased the membrane transport activity as well as the levels of ATP and GSH. Ascorbate minimized these toxic effects substantially. The presence of high ascorbate appears highly beneficial in protecting the lens against oxidative damage and cataract formation, despite a deficiency of AR. The findings appear to be significant from the point of view of using ascorbate for delaying the onset of cataract development in human beings.
d-Alpha tocopherol succinate
d-Alpha tocopherol succinate (Vitamin E) is an antioxidant that protects cells against free radical damage which may lead to disorders such as heart disease and cancer. It is particularly important in protecting fats, cell membranes, DNA and enzymes against damage. Vitamin E is essential for the maintenance of a healthy immune system and vision. As an antioxidant, vitamin E may also protect against the effects of aging caused by degeneration in tissues such as the skin and blood vessels.
The research team from Research Institute of Public Health at University of Kuopio in Finland evaluated the association between plasma vitamin E content and progression of eye lens opacities. A total of 410 hypercholesterolemic eastern Finnish men participated in the study from January 1990 to September 1993.
A low plasma vitamin E level (lowest quartile) was associated with a 3.7-fold excess risk of the progression of early cortical lens opacities compared with the highest quartile. In addition, the number of cigarettes smoked daily was a significant predictor of the progression of cortical lens opacity. The data suggest that low plasma vitamin E content may be associated with increased risk of the progression of early cortical lens opacity. Hence supplementation of vitamin E may procrastinate the progression of eye lens opacities.
Selenium
Selenium is an essential trace mineral for human and is concentrated in the kidneys, liver, heart, spleen and testes. It is sourced from brazil nuts, yeast, whole grains and seafood. Selenium activates an antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which may help protect the body from free radical damage to cells. It is also essential for healthy immune and cardiovascular systems, as well as hormone production.
The excess or deficiency of selenium may cause cataractogenesis, the process of cataract formation. A study was undertaken to reveal the relationship of selenium with cataractogenesis in 48 patients with senile cataract. Selenium level in serum, lens and aqueous humour samples were measured and compared with the results of appropriate controls. It is anticipated that decreased selenium in aqueous humour and sera of patients with senile cataract may reflect defective antioxidative defense systems, which may lead to the formation of cataract.
Therefore, it is important to maintain adequate selenium levels in sera and aqueous humour to support antioxidative defense systems. This can be easily achieved by selenium supplementation.
Rutin
Rutin is a glycoside of the flavonol, quercetin. It possesses many activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet. This natural flavonoid was studied recently and its effect on ocular blood flow was measured with coloured micro-sphere technique. It was found that rutin showed strong positive effects in increasing the ocular blood flow.
In a study, Chiou G.C. and Xu X.R. tried to find out whether these results could be translated on their effects to improve retinal function recovery after ischemic insult. Electroretinography was used to measure the b-wave recovery as an indication of retinal function recovery. Rutin was found to produce marked positive effects on b-wave recovery after ischemic insult of the retina.
This finding confirmed that rutin showed strong increase of ocular blood flow, as well as marked increase of retinal function recovery. With these beneficial effects, rutin is particularly useful when added to a vision supplement.
Quercetin
Quercetin, a major flavonol in the diet, has been shown to exert anti- inflammatory effects. Inflammation is mediated partly by the release of histamine from mast cells. It may stabilise the membranes of these cells, thereby reducing histamine release. Quercetin may inhibit the enzyme that converts glucose to sorbitol, a compound that is linked to diabetic complications, including cataracts. It may also enhance insulin secretion and protect pancreatic cells from free radical damage.
Oxidative stress is implicated in the initiation of maturity onset cataract. Quercetin inhibits lens opacification in a lens organ culture oxidative model of cataract. A research was undertaken to investigate the metabolism of quercetin in the lens and show how its metabolism affects the ability to prevent oxidation-induced opacity in rat lenses.
The results demonstrate that in the rat lens catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) methylates quercetin and that the product accumulates within the lens. Quercetin inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced sodium and calcium influx and lens opacification. The study indicates that dietary quercetin may be active in inhibiting oxidative damage in the lens and thus could play a role in prevention of cataract formation.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red colour. It is found in high concentration in adrenal gland, testes and prostate. The levels of lycopene seem to decrease with age. There are studies suggesting that lycopene may help to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancers of the prostate, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract.
Acting as a nutritional antioxidant, lycopene was evaluated for its anti-cataract potential in an Indian study to further establish its role in cataract prevention. The ability of lycopene to modulate the biochemical parameters was investigated by in vitro studies. The results showed lycopene supplementation significantly restored glutathione and malondialdehyde levels. A significant restoration in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase was observed in the lycopene-supplemented group. Lycopene also reduced the incidence of selenite cataract and significantly delayed the onset and progression of galactose cataract.
This study concludes that lycopene protects against experimental cataract development by virtue of its antioxidant properties, and it may be useful for prevention against cataracts.
Bioflavonoids
Bioflavonoids generally referred to as flavonoids, are found in fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidant and are often given with vitamin C to improve the function of vitamin C in the treatment of colds, bleeding problems, bruising and ulcers.
A study was carried out to determine whether flavonoids could protect human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from oxidative-stress-induced death. It was found that specific flavonoids protected human RPE cells from oxidative- stress-induced death with efficacies between 80% and 100% and potencies in the high-nanomolar and low-micromolar range . Several flavonoids can protect RPE cells even when they are added after the cells have been exposed to oxidative stress. The flavonoids acted through an intracellular route to block the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.
The results identify a select group of flavonoids that protect RPE cells from oxidative-stress-induced death with a high degree of potency and low toxicity. Many of these flavonoids also induce the expression of phase-2 detoxification proteins that could function to provide additional protection against oxidative stress. This select group of flavonoids may have some benefit for individuals with retinal diseases associated with oxidative stress.
Glutamine
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid, building block of protein, in the body and is involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid. It is converted to glucose when more glucose is required by the body as an energy source. Glutamine serves as a source of fuel for cells lining the intestines. Without it, these cells waste away. It is also used by white blood cells and is important for immune function.
Jernigan H.M. Jr. investigated the metabolism of glutamine and glutamate in human lenses. In animal lenses, the principal source of lenticular glutamate is glutamine, which enters the lens and is deamidated to form glutamate. Glutamate is important to lenses as a central intermediate in amino acid metabolism, as well as for synthesis of proteins and glutathione. Glutamine was found to enter lenses more readily than glutamate in all the species examined. Therefore, supplementation of glutamine may be useful to form glutamate in human lenses.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid-like compound and a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Taurine is found mostly in meat and fish. It helps regulate the heartbeat, maintain cell membrane stability, and prevent brain cell over-activity.
The physiological function of taurine in the retina was reviewed by Militante J.D. and Lombardini J.B. in USA. As a free amino acid, taurine is found in high millimolar concentrations in mammalian tissue and is particularly
Abundant in the retina. The data suggest that taurine is an important neurochemical factor in the visual system. The distribution of taurine is tightly regulated in the different retinal cell types through the development of the retina. Taurine depletion results in significant retinal lesions. In addition, taurine release and uptake has been found to employ distinct regulatory mechanisms in the retina.
Specifically, it has been established that visual dysfunction in both human and animal subjects results from taurine deficiency. Moreover, the deficiency is reversed with simple nutritional supplementation with taurine.
References:
Berendschot T.T., Goldbohm R.A., Klöpping W.A., Van de Kraats J., Van Norel J., Van Norren D., Influence of lutein supplementation on macular pigment, assessed with two objective techniques. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000 Oct; 41 (11): 3322-6.
Chiou G.C., Xu X.R., Effects of some natural flavonoids on retinal function recovery after ischemic insult in the rat. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Apr; 20 (2): 107-13.
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Fursova A.Zh., Gesarevich O.G., Gonchar A.M., Trofimova N.A., Kolosova N.G., Dietary supplementation with bilberry extract prevents macular degeneration and cataracts in senesce-accelerated OXYS rats] Adv Gerontol. 2005; 16: 76-9.
Gupta S.K., Trivedi D., Srivastava S., Joshi S., Halder N., Verma S.D., Lycopene attenuates oxidative stress induced experimental cataract development: an in vitro and in vivo study. Nutrition. 2003 Sep; 19 (9): 794-9. GNC Healthnotes: www.gnc.com
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