News

Carnosic Acid - Protects Retina and Supports Healthy Cartilage

Carnosic acid, an extract from the herb Rosemary, is a powerful activator of cellular endogenous antioxidants, through involvement in increasing Nrf2 transcription.  Since carnosic acid crosses the blood-brain barrier, there is significant provisioning of protection of the brain and neural tissue.(1) In addition, the retina is primarily neural tissue, which benefits greatly from carnosic acid.

          RETINA - MITIGATING AGING EYE DETERIORATION

• Reduces Light Induced Damage - Continued light exposure created free  radicals in the retina, which are destructive to the photoreceptors. (1,2)
• Age-Related Macular degeneration (AMD) - Photoreceptors are also loss in AMD. Studies involving lab animals suggest that the addition of carnosic acid (rosemary extract) to other vision supplements, i.e. AREDS, may maximize effectiveness in reducing retinal damage. (3)
• Slows Photoreceptor Degeneration. In mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa, carnosic acid has been shown to slow the loss of photoreceptors.(4)
• Reduces Acyrlamide Toxicity - A toxic compound resulting from the heating of carbohydrates, and occurs in many everyday foods, including potato chips, and other heated foods.Acrylamide crosses the blood-brain barrier and is destructive to the  retina. (5,6)

           CARTILAGE - BENEFICIAL EFFECTS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

• Activates Heme-Oxygenase-1  (HO--1). HO-1 promotes reduction of inflammation in the cartilage, which is characteristic of cartilage degeneration.  As such, carnosic acid promotes preservation of cartilage and inhibition of the degenerative process. Researchers concluded that carnosic acid both prevents cartilage degeneration and the severity of osteoarthritis, as evidenced by animal models.(7)
• Chondrocytes, the cartilage producing cells, are negatively impacted by inflammation, and carnosic acid, improves the function and longevity of the chondrocytes. (8)
• Improves  Chondrocyte Gene Expression. Helps maintain the ability of the chondrocyte to produce cartilage.(8). 

 VISION VITALITY™    (with CARNOSIC ACID)

REFERENCES:

(1) Rezaie T, et al. Protective effect of carnosic acid, a pro-electrophilic compound, in models of oxidative stress and light-induced retinal degeneration. Invest, Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2012 Nov

(2) Contin MA, et al. Light pollution: the possible consequences of excessive illumination on retina. Eye (Lond). 2016 Feb

(3) Wong P, et al, Enhancing the efficacy of AREDS antioxidants in light-induced retinal degeneration. Mol Vis. 2017 Oct

(4) Kang K, et al. Carnosic acid slows photoreceptor degeneration in the Pde6b(rd10) mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep. 2016 Mar

(5) Albalawi A, et al. Protective effect of carnosic acid against acrylamide-induced toxicity in RPE cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017 Oct

(6) Albalawi A, et al. Carnosic acid attenuates acrylamide-induced retinal toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Exp Eye Res. 2018 Oct;

 (6) Ishitobi H, et al. Carnosic acid attenuates cartilage degeneration through induction of heme oxygenase-1 in human articular chondrocytes.

(7) Ravaili S, et al. Recently highlighted nutraceuticals for preventive management of osteoarthritis. World J Orthop. 2018 Nov

(8) Schwager J, et al.  Carnosol and Related Substances Modulate Chemokine and Cytokine Production in Macrophages and Chondrocytes. Molecules. 2016 Apr

Keeping Joints Fit and Mobile - Collagen Bioactives FORTIGEL®

One of the primary detrimental features of aging is the loss of mobility. Due to increasing levels of inflammation and daily mechanical stress, joints gradually lose the cartilage necessary for pain free mobility. This becomes especially evident in the knees.

Collagen bioactives have been shown to stimulate the production of cartilage and helping to maintain cartilage. In published research, Fortigel® collagen bioactives were demonstrated to significantly increase cartilage tissue metabolism. Fortigel® is an innovative ingredient from the German company GELITA, which supports the replenishing of joint cartilage.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was performed at the Tufts Medical Center in cooperation with Harvard University, involved 30 participants with early knee osteoarthritis. After 48 weeks of administration,  participants showed a statistically significant increase of proteoglycan (cartilage) density in the medial and lateral tibial regions of the FORTIGEL^®- treated patients compared to the placebo group. This was confirmed by MRI scans. While this study focused on osteoarthritis, evidence suggests that collagen bioactives will also support cartilage maintenance of healthy cartilage.(1)

CARTILAGE MAX   (with FORTIGEL)

REFERENCES:

(1) Gelita Fortigel Research. 2015.