Monthly Archive for January, 2012

Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 3: Vitamin C

Published on January 30, 2012 in bone health, healthy aging spotlight and vitamin c. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 3: Vitamin C

Collagen is the major structural protein in bone. The proper synthesis and linking of collagen fibers requires large amounts of vitamin C. It is not surprising that nutritionists have found that the density and strength of adult bones increases as daily vitamin C intake increases.9,10 With so many other ways to benefit from a regular intake of vitamin C, why take chances with your bones?

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 4: Phosphorus

References:
9. Macdonald HM, New SA, Golden MH, Campbell MK, Reid DM. Nutritional associations with bone loss during the menopausal transition: Evidence of a beneficial effect of calcium, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable nutrients and of a detrimental effect of fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:155-165.
10. Maggio D, Barabani M, Pierandrei M, Polidori MC, Catani M, Mecocci P, Senin U, Pacifici R, Cherubini A. Marked decrease in plasma antioxidants in aged osteoporotic women: Results of a crosssectional study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:1523-7152.

Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 2: What is the “Real” Vitamin D Requirement?

Published on January 26, 2012 in bone health, healthy aging spotlight and vitamin d. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 2: What is the “Real” Vitamin D Requirement?

The true test of vitamin D adequacy is whether it prevents the parathyroid glands from secreting parathyroid hormone (PTH). What does the scientific evidence say? Daily intakes of vitamin D much greater than the recommended 400 IU are required to minimize PTH secretion and optimize skeletal health. The results of a statistical analysis of published research published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that men and women over 60 years of age who routinely consumed double the RDA (about 800 IU of vitamin D daily) suffered 25% fewer hip fractures than those who stuck to the RDA.5 Consistent with this analysis, the results of the Women’s Health Initiative Study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine proved that the RDA for vitamin D was no better than vitamin D deficient diets in protecting the skeleton.6 As shown in the results of another study published recently in the British Medical Journal, even 800 IU daily may not be enough vitamin D for every elderly person.7

Scientists now conclude that an average vitamin D intake of 1000 IU daily is needed by most adults (some may require more) and that an average daily vitamin D intake of 2600 IU would be required in order to ensure that very few older women could become functionally vitamin D deficient. A pioneer of vitamin D research, Dr. Hector F. DeLuca of the University of Wisconsin, has advised all adults to consume 2000 IU of vitamin D daily to optimize health.8 As detailed in the vitamin D chapter later on in this book, many researchers feel that a number of people may need much higher amounts. The FDA also agrees about the importance of achieving adequate intake of vitamin D along with calcium throughout life. In a claim they’ve approved about the relationship between vitamin D and calcium together, they state that, “Adequate calcium and vitamin D throughout life, as part of a well-balanced diet, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.” Calcium is the structural backbone for skeletal health and vitamin D controls its incorporation into tissues. Both are vital to promoting healthy bone structure and density.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 3: Vitamin C

References:
5. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Giovannucci E, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA 2005;293:2257-2264.
6. Jackson RD, LaCroix AZ, Gass M, Wallace RB, Robbins J, Lewis CE, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black HR, Blanchette P, Bonds DE, Brunner RL, Brzyski RG, Caan B, Cauley JA, Chlebowski RT, Cummings SR, Granek I, Hays J, Heiss G, Hendrix SL, Howard BV, Hsia J, Hubbell FA, Johnson KC, Judd H, Kotchen JM, Kuller LH, Langer RD, Lasser NL, Limacher MC, Ludlam S, Manson JE, Margolis KL, McGowan J, Ockene JK, O’Sullivan MJ, Phillips L, Prentice RL, Sarto GE, Stefanick ML, Van Horn L, Wactawski-Wende J, Whitlock E, Anderson GL, Assaf AR, Barad D; Women’s Health Initiative Investigators. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. N Engl J Med 2006;354:669-683.
7. Porthouse J, Cockayne S, King C, Saxon L, Steele E, Aspray T, Baverstock M, Birks Y, Dumville J, Francis R, Iglesias C, Puffer S, Sutcliffe A, Watt I, Torgerson DJ. Randomised controlled trial of calcium and supplementation with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) for prevention of fractures in primary care. BMJ 2005;330:1003 (6 pages). doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7498.1003 (http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7498/1003).
8. DeLuca HF. Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(Suppl.):1689S-1696S.

Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 1: Calcium and Vitamin D

Published on January 24, 2012 in bone health, calcium, healthy aging spotlight and vitamin d. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 1 Calcium and Vitamin D – never alone, always together

The bedrock of every bone is an excellent supply of calcium and vitamin D. It’s only logical – the hard substance of a bone is mostly calcium and vitamin D is needed in order for the gut to absorb calcium and for the bones to know what to do with it. Vitamin D regulates the body’s calcium metabolism (and does much more). The importance of vitamin D for health is no longer a theory. It’s a scientific fact. Its importance for bone health in conjunction with calcium is also well-established.

The results of three “gold standard” randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials all have shown that dietary supplementation with calcium promotes healthy bone structure. In one of these studies, elderly postmenopausal women without previous fractures responded to 4 years of daily dietary supplementation with 1000 mg of calcium with enhanced bone density and structure when compared to similar women being fed a placebo.2 Similarly, a second study showed that elderly postmenopausal women who had previously suffered a spontaneous bone fracture, and had a lifetime of poor calcium nutrition prior to the study, responded to 4 years of daily dietary supplementation with 1200 mg of calcium with 77% fewer new spinal fractures than occurred in women fed a placebo for the 4 years.3 In the third randomized placebo-controlled study, women who previously had suffered multiple fractures and then supplemented their diets with 1500 mg to 2500 mg of calcium daily also enjoyed fewer new fractures than were endured by similar women fed a placebo.4

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized the relationship between good calcium nutrition and bone health by stating that “Adequate calcium throughout life, as part of a well-balanced diet, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.” These government scientists continue to consider the significant scientific evidence that indicates that maintaining adequate calcium intake (that is, the amount that they recommend be consumed on a regular daily basis) can reduce the chances of suffering a spontaneous, “osteoporotic” fracture of the hip, spine or wrist.

A possible side-benefit of maintaining adequate calcium nutrition: On October 12, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that although they found the scientific evidence inconsistent and not yet conclusive, they agreed that “Some scientific evidence suggests that calcium supplements may reduce the risk of hypertension.”

Another possible side-benefit of maintaining adequate calcium nutrition: On October 12, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that although the supporting scientific evidence is sparse and not conclusive, “Some evidence suggests that calcium supplements may reduce the risk of colon/rectal cancer” and “Very limited and preliminary evidence suggests that calcium supplements may reduce the risk of colon/rectal polyps.”

But please do not think about calcium in isolation. The ability of calcium to benefit your bones (and cardiovascular system and digestive tract) depends on the cooperation of vitamin D. Unfortunately, even if you are making sure to get the recommended amount of vitamin D every single day, you still may not be getting enough vitamin D to optimally support your health.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Tips for Better Bone Building, Part 2: What is the “Real” Vitamin D Requirement?

References:
2. Reid IR, Ames RW, Evans MC, Gamble GD, Sharpe SJ. Long-term effects of calcium supplementation on bone loss and fractures in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Med 1995;98:331-335.
3. Recker RR, Hinders S, Davies KM, Heaney RP, Stegman MR, Lappe JM, Kimmel DB. Correcting calcium nutritional deficiency prevents spine fractures in elderly women. J Bone Miner Res 996;11:1961- 1966.
4. Riggs BL, Seeman E, Hodgson SF, Taves DR, O’Fallon WM. Effect of the fluoride/calcium regimen on vertebral fracture occurrence in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Comparison with conventional therapy. N Engl J Med 1982;306:446-450.

Strong Bones – Strong Body

Published on January 17, 2012 in bone health and healthy aging spotlight. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Strong Bones – Strong Body

Healthy bones are fundamental to good health. Unhealthy bones are more than just a concern – they can signify a significant decrease in structural integrity and raise red flags for overall health status. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation,1 a quarter of all men and fully half of all women will break at least one bone after the age of fifty. In both men and women, about half of those breaks will involve the hip. Hip fractures are especially deadly – a hip fracture triples the chances of dying within 5 years. In fact, one year after suffering a hip fracture, 20% of the victims will be dead, another 30% will be permanently disabled and at least 80% will not recover. Chronic back pain, loss of height, deformities, sleep disorders and mood problems are common consequences endured by survivors.

Maintaining healthy bone function entails several fundamentals of diet, lifestyle and nutritional support. While not difficult, incorporating these fundamentals to support optimal bone health is a meticulous process that requires life-long attention.

Nutrition and Bone Health
There have been a number of exciting discoveries in the 21st century that have expanded this relationship far beyond “drink more milk.” Some well-known nutrients are becoming better understood and a few somewhat unexpected roles have been uncovered as the effects of the immune response on bones have begun to become appreciated. Excellent dietary practices (and a little help from bone-friendly supplements) and you’ll be standing tall for decades to come.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Calcium and Vitamin D – never alone, always together

References:
1. International Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis: Teaching Slide Kit. Lyon, France. (http://www.osteofound.org/health_professionals/teaching_resources/slide_kit.html)

Nutritional Support for Skin Health

Published on January 13, 2012 in healthy aging spotlight and skin health. 2 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Nutritional Support for Skin Health

Skin health is a direct reflection of health overall. What’s on the inside is expressed on the outside. In many traditions worldwide, skin health has been related to “impurities” and “toxins” in the blood. Furthermore, several traditional medical systems advocate supporting the efficiency of the liver and detoxifying organs of the body as a means of enhancing skin health. It makes sense that an excessive level of “toxins” in circulation could potentially cause blemishes on the skin. Thus, supporting liver health as a means of supporting healthy skin is a viable approach.

Besides the liver, poor skin health has been related to digestive function. Our digestive tracts are one of the means for the outside world to make direct contact with our insides, especially in the realm of foods and diet. It’s also where many of our food intolerances are developed, either because of immune deficiencies or because of defects in our digestive capacities. Another contributing factor is bacteria and yeast that normally populate our digestive tract. If the bacterial flora is health-promoting, they help digest our food and aid in extracting skin-healthy nutrients from the diet. If the bacterial flora is unhealthy, we fail to take full advantage of the nutrients contained within the foods we eat. Unhealthy bacteria and yeast can also excrete toxins into the gut that can add to the toxic burden our bodies have to deal with, eventually affecting the health of our skin.

A further aspect related to skin health that is important to keep in mind is that the skin itself is a major barrier, which shields and protects our bodies from the ravages of our environment. Intact skin functions to protect us from potential insults that we are exposed to in the world in which we live. Damaged skin compromises this protective shield, leading to compromises in immune defenses and other health problems.

When considering supporting skin health, think about nourishing the skin (and body) from within. What’s healthy for the body is healthy for the skin. Ensuring that our diets contain nutrients that are healthy and support the structural needs of the skin is the first step. The next step is to ensure optimal digestive function and to ramp up the detoxifying ability of the liver. Finally, limiting the effects of environmental exposures that can compromise skin health is also important.

Keeping Healthy Skin Healthy
Healthy skin is smooth, soft, and supple, with a nice uniform color and the sheen of youthfulness. Discolorations and other blemishes aren’t just unsightly – they alert you to the less-thanoptimal health status of your natural outer covering. The beneficial effects of your favorite creams, which contribute important nutrients and hydration from the outside, can be augmented by including several skin-friendly nutrients in your diet.

Pycnogenol to Enhance Venous Tone and Circulation
Pycnogenol strengthens the ability of small blood vessels in the skin to resist oxidative damage.1 Results of recently published human clinical trials confirm the power of Pycnogenol to promote healthy, well-nourished skin by supporting healthy circulation and vein health.2,3 Pycnogenol also contains compounds that have potent antioxidant properties to support the skin’s immune defenses.

Hyaluronic Acid for Skin Elasticity
Aging skin contains less hyaluronic acid. Because hyaluronic acid is the most abundant water-binding glycosaminoglycan in healthy skin, loss of hyaluronic acid results in loss of elasticity and increased density – giving skin a dry and wrinkled appearance. Adding hyaluronic acid back to skin increases its moisture content and flexibility.

Exposure to sunlight also dries skin and reduces its flexibility. Increasing the hyaluronic acid content of skin increases its resistance to the deleterious effects of sunlight. A paper published recently in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Science has shown hyaluronic acid to be a powerful antioxidant within the skin that prevents wrinkle-producing free radical damage of the skin as well as maintaining the normal level of hydration within the skin.4

Hyaluronic acid promotes flexible and supple skin, which makes it an ideal candidate for your skin anti-aging program.

Smooth Out Your Coloration with Nutrition
Extracts of pomegranate fruit can help decrease your skin’s tendency to develop spotty pigmentation after exposure to sunlight. In research published recently in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, the consumption of pomegranate extract prevented much of the excess pigmentation that otherwise was caused by sunlight exposure.5 Other research published recently in Photochemistry and Photobiology has shown that pomegranate extract blocks the effects of ultraviolet light on the chemical pathways in the skin that can produce the unsightly signs of skin aging.6

Discolored spots on the skin can be caused by excessive oxidation within the skin – usually triggered by unprotected exposure to a little too much sun. Those great antioxidant vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, can intercept runaway melanin production in your skin – a major cause of the undesirable appearance of photoaged skin. But these vitamins never are as powerful as when they are combined with other targeted nutrients such as melatonin, which works in concert with the antioxidant vitamins to keep skin from overreacting to sunlight.

Another key to healthy skin is filling your diet with colorful phytonutrients! A growing body of research shows that men and women who supplement their diets with ß-carotene, lutein and lycopene (along with vitamin C and vitamin E) can increase the ability of their skin to withstand sunlight without burning – powerful additional antioxidant support for a good sunscreen!

Stay Cool and Remain Refreshed – Both Are Good for Your Skin
Iced tea is for beating the heat inside your body – and it also helps you handle the sun’s energy on the outside. Iced tea, and especially green tea, adds nutrients to your skin that increase its natural barrier to sunlight penetration. Research findings published recently in the Chinese Medical Journal and in the Journal of Nutrition testify to the protective properties of the phytonutrients in tea and especially in green tea.7,8 It turns out green tea contains phytochemicals that have superb antioxidant activity. This property of tea allows it to confer potent protection to skin cells.

Lose Excess Fat for a Trimmer Appearance and More Supple Skin
You knew that if you could get yourself to limit your intake of fats you could drop a few pounds and trim your shape. You also need to know that that excess layer of fat you have built up between your skin and the rest of your body acts to dry out and stiffen your skin.9 Take home message – don’t take the fat home – leave it in the store or restaurant and help your skin draw admiration to your entire appearance.

Fish Oil for Skin Cell Communication
The essential fatty acids contained in fish oil are extremely beneficial for the skin. Our diets generally contain a large proportion of unhealthy fats and a high percentage of omega-6 fatty acids. However, cell membranes preferentially use the omega-3 fats from fish for incorporation into their membranes. These fats facilitate cell-to-cell communication and enhance the ability of cells to flush toxins out and push nutrients in, keeping cells healthy. While this is the case with cells throughout the body, this is also certainly true for skin cells. Thus, for truly vibrant skin, eat wild-caught fish that is loaded with omega-3 oils and supplement with a high-quality fish oil supplement.

Healthy Bacteria = Healthy Skin
Digestive function can have a big impact on skin health. Probiotic organisms are bacteria that produce beneficial health effects in the body and support optimal digestive function and nutrient absorption. Thus, supplementing with probiotics can have beneficial effects on the skin as they facilitate nutrient utilization by the body.

Support the Liver, Support the Skin
The liver is the major detoxifier of the body. Keeping the blood free and clear of toxins can have a large effect on the appearance of the skin. By enhancing the liver’s detoxifying efficiency, you can ensure that toxins in circulation are properly neutralized. Herbs such as milk thistle and turmeric, and nutrients such as N-acetylcysteine and other antioxidants, play a role in supporting liver function. See the Liver Support chapter for more information on liver-healthy practices.

Supporting the skin begins with promoting the health of the digestive tract and liver, and providing optimal levels of nutrients that directly support skin health. Incorporating skin healthy dietary practices and therapeutic nutrients into your daily regimen can leave your skin supple, youthful, and glowing. The skin is a reflection of what’s underneath. Keep it happy by nourishing your insides.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Nutritional Support for Bone Health

References:
1. Gulati OP. Pycnogenol in venous disorders: A review. Eur Bull Drug Res 1999;7:8-13.
2. Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi BM, Ledda A, Di Renzo A, Stuard S, Dugall M, Pellegrini L, Rohdewald P, Ippolito E, Ricci A, Cacchio M, Ruffini I, Fano F, Hosoi M. Venous ulcers: Microcirculatory improvement and faster healing with local use of Pycnogenol. Angiology 2005;56:699-705.
3. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rohdewald P, Pellegrini L, Ledda A, Vinciguerra G, Ricci A, Gizzi G, Ippolito E, Fano F, Dugall M, Acerbi G, Cacchio M, Di Renzo A, Hosoi M, Stuard S, Corsi M. Comparison of Pycnogenol and Daflon in treating chronic venous insufficiency: A prospective, controlled study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2006;12:205- 212.
4. Trommer H, Neubert RH. Screening for new antioxidative compounds for topical administration using skin lipid model systems. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2005;8:494-506.
5. Yoshimura M, Watanabe Y, Kasai K, Yamakoshi J, Koga T. Inhibitory effect of an ellagic acid-rich pomegranate extract on tyrosinase activity and ultraviolet-induced pigmentation. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2005;69:2368-2373.
6. Syed DN, Malik A, Hadi N, Sarfaraz S, Afaq F, Mukhtar H. Photochemopreventive effect of pomegranate fruit extract on UVA-mediated activation of cellular pathways in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Photochem Photobiol 2006;82:398-405.
7. Song XZ, Bi ZG, Xu AE. Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3- gallate inhibits the expression of nitric oxide synthase and generation of nitric oxide induced by ultraviolet B in HaCaT cells. Chin Med J 2006;119:282-287.
8. Heinrich U, Neukam K, Tronnier H, Sies H, Stahl W. Long-term ingestion of high flavanol cocoa provides photoprotection against UV-induced erythema and improves skin condition in women. J Nutr 2006;136:1565-1569.
9. Boelsma E, van de Vijver LP, Goldbohm RA, Klopping-Ketelaars IA, Hendriks HF, Roza L. Human skin condition and its associations with nutrient concentrations in serum and diet. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:348-355.

37 Strawberries – Super Food Formula, New from Purity Products

Published on January 9, 2012 in product news. 4 Comments

Published studies on the ingredients in 37 Strawberries Fisetin Super Fruit Formula show a variety of effects leading to maintenance of healthy brain cell function and protection against oxidative stress in the brain. These positive effects on the physiology of brain cells help support healthy aging.

To find out more, visit:
http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/productDetail?productId=37-strawberries-fisetin-super-fruit-formula&source=blog

New! Dr. Cannell’s Advanced D with Calcium and Magnesium

Published on January 6, 2012 in product news and vitamin d. 0 Comments

We just released another new product! Dr. Cannell’s Advanced D with Calcium and Magnesium provides a powerful dose of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) backed by nutrients that work in tandem with this crucial vitamin to support the health of numerous systems within the body. At the foundation of its design, as an answer to widespread Vitamin D deficiency, are found a set of other nutrients – key cofactors – added to compliment the physiological actions of D3.

Find out more here:
http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/productDetail?productId=dr-cannells-advanced-vitamin-d-with-calcium-magnesium&source=blog

Natural Arthritis Relief Therapy 1222, Now Available at Purity Products

Published on January 6, 2012 in joint health and product news. 0 Comments

We have a new product available at Purity Products. Natural Arthritis Relief Therapy 1222 is a natural topical pain reliever that is completely different from traditional analgesics. Most topical pain products are counter-irritants that mask pain with hot/cold sensations. NR1222 actually relieves pain like a pain pill but without the harmful side effects. It’s also clinically shown to reduce stiffness and increase range of motion.

This remarkable pain reliever contains botanically derived active ingredients (Rhus Toxidodendron and Byronia) is a patented natural base of natural ingredients including Squalane from Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Aloe Vera, Soybean Oil, Elastin, Garlic Extract, Coconut Oil, Mineral Oil, Antioxidants, Vitamins and other ingredients found in premium skincare products.

Find out more here:
http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/productDetail?productId=natural-arthritis-relief-therapy-1222&source=blog

Nutritional Support for Eye Health

Published on January 4, 2012 in eye health, healthy aging spotlight, lutein and pycnogenol. 0 Comments Tags: .

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Eye Health – Seeing is Believing

Vision and eyesight often receive little attention when it comes to nutrition. The vast majority of people are unaware that there are foods and nutritional support ingredients that can promote healthy vision as they get older. Whether you prefer to add selected fruits and vegetables to your diet, supplement your diet with an appropriate high-quality formula, or both, the foundation of eye health is the combination of several ingredients that prevent free radical destruction of eye tissue over the long run to maintain healthy visual function with age. These include basic antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, ß-carotene, and the mineral zinc (balanced with copper); two vastly underappreciated phytonutrients – lutein and zeaxanthin; the extract of French maritime pine bark – Pycnogenol – and potentially the structural-support nutrient hyaluronic acid. These powerful nutritional support champions form the basis of every healthy vision regimen.

Antioxidants ß-Carotene, vitamins C, E and Zinc

The AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) trial was conducted several years ago under the sponsorship of the National Eye Institute, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health. The trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and the mineral zinc in supporting eye health in aging individuals. The AREDS study involved 4,757 participants aged between 55 and 80 years old. The results of the study were released in October 2001. The study participants supplemented with either antioxidants alone, zinc alone, or the combination of antioxidants plus zinc for an average of 6.3 years. The group supplementing with the combination had the best outcomes with statistically significant results in maintaining normal visual acuity over that period of time.1

The formula used in the study included 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 mg of ß-carotene, 80 mg of zinc and 2 mg of copper supplemented on a daily basis. This study was integral in showing that a relatively high dose of antioxidant nutrients was able to help promote healthy vision in elderly individuals, and suggests the benefits of antioxidant supplementation to eye health.

The human retina contains the photoreceptor cells that convert light into vision. A healthy retina is absolutely vital to good vision. Oxidative damage to the eye is the most common cause of vision problems and loss in adulthood.2 Preventing oxidative damage before it happens is the best protection you can give your eyes.

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and the Retina

Fortunately, the retina contains lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoid cousins of ß-carotene. Lutein and zeaxanthin absorb ultraviolet light – a powerful antioxidant effect that protects the retina from oxidative damage. The absorption of ultraviolet light before it reaches the photoreceptors also helps to keep the visual image clear and distortion-free. By absorbing ultraviolet light, lutein and zeaxanthin contribute to visual acuity.

Smoke in Your Eyes (a bad thing)

Smoking has detrimental effects all around. Several tissues can suffer oxidative damage as a result of exposure to several of the compounds present in cigarette smoke. Direct exposure to cigarette smoke causes oxidation in the eye and its internal structures, and can double the retina’s need for the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

Age-Related Changes in Vision

Age also increases the retinal requirement for lutein and zeaxanthin, which approximately doubles between the ages of 20 and 80 years.3 Elderly men and women with low amounts of retinal lutein and zeaxanthin experience a decline in visual acuity and are much more likely to suffer age-related visual stress. Daily dietary supplementation with as little as 6 mg of lutein is a powerful promoter of visual acuity and eye health.4,5

Of course, “age-related” refers less to the fact that an individual is getting older and more to the fact that there is oxidative damage to eye tissue, which can occur at any age and in any individual. Thus, ensuring adequate lutein intake can be beneficial for everyone.

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and the Lens

Oxidative damage to the structure of the eye known as the lens is also common. Lutein and zeaxanthin filter high-energy blue light and function as antioxidants in the lens – functions which can protect this essential eye structure from being damaged. Researchers found that women aged 53 to 73 years with daily lutein plus zeaxanthin intakes of at least 2.4 mg nearly doubled their chances of having optimally-functioning lenses.6 Yet another reason for supplementing with these beneficial carotenoids.

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and the Optic Nerve

Making sure that your eyes contain enough of the natural antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, can ensure continued support for optic nerve health. The optic nerve transmits visual information from retinal tissue to the brain. Thus, damage to the optic nerve can severely affect visual acuity. Ensuring adequate lutein and zeaxanthin intake can protect the optic nerve from free radical damage.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin – Where Do They Come From?

The lutein and zeaxanthin of the macular pigment are entirely of dietary origin (and therefore lutein and zeaxanthin are essential nutrients).2 Lutein and zeaxanthin are found naturally in corn, broccoli, green beans, green peas, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, collard greens, spinach, lettuce, kiwi, honey dew, nettles, algae, the petals of many yellow flowers, the yolks of eggs laid by hens fed marigolds and high-quality dietary supplements. The results of a study published recently in the Journal of Nutrition indicate that more of the lutein (and probably zeaxanthin) that you consume can be absorbed if you add a little avocado.7

Recent studies have also confirmed that the more lutein and zeaxanthin one consumes, the more it can benefit eye health. Studies suggest that dietary intake of both carotenoids causes an increase in the amount of carotenoids reaching the eyes and thus able to confer protection from free radical damage.8,9

Pycnogenol

As we know, the normal processes of vision and daily environmental exposures to eye tissue produce vast amounts of free radicals. Overload your eyes with these destructive byproducts of sight and you risk permanent damage to the retina, cornea and lens. Pycnogenol protects the structures of the eye – the cornea, lens and retina – from vision-destroying oxidation.10

Incorporating eye-friendly nutrients into your daily nutritional regimen increases your chances of enjoying worry-free visual function throughout life. Antioxidant nutrients such as ß-carotene, vitamins C and E, Zinc, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, Pycnogenol and hyaluronic acid can all play a part in ensuring you maintain healthy visual acuity and eye function by providing your visual organs with the nourishment and protection they desire.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Skin Health – Nourishing your Insides to Nourish your Outsides

References:
1. Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss. Arch Opthalmol 2001;119:1417-1436.
2. Beatty S, Boulton M, Henson D, Koh H-H, Murray IJ. Macular pigment and age related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:867–877.
3. Beatty S, Murray IJ, Henson DB, Carden D, Koh H-H, Boulton ME. Macular pigment and risk for age-related macular degeneration in subjects from a Northern European population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2001;42:439-446.
4. Richer S, Stiles W, Statkute L, Pulido J, Frankowski J, Rudy D, Pei K, Tsipursky M, Nyland J. Double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the intervention of atrophic age-related macular degeneration: The Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial). Optometry 2004;75:216-230.
5. Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD, Hiller R, Blair N, Burton TC, Farber MD, Gragoudas ES, Haller J, Miller DT, et al. (1994) Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. JAMA 1994;272:1413-1420.
6. Jacques PF, Chylack LT Jr, Hankinson SE, Khu PM, Rogers G, Friend J, Tung W, Wolfe JK, Padhye N, Willett WC, Taylor A. Long-term nutrient intake and early age-related nuclear lens opacities. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1009-1019.
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