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Meso Zeaxanthin and Vitamin D - May counter Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is characterized by retinal inflammation and oxidative stress. Chronic degeneration of the retina is related to the unbated toxic pathologies of these stressors. Lab research, using human retinal pigmented epithelium cells, indicates that the combination of Vitamin D and Meso Zeaxanthin, may provide value to early stage AMD.(1)

VISION VITALITY (20mg of Meso Zeaxanthin per dose)

REFERENCES:

(1) Lazzara F, et al. Effects of Vitamin D ₃ and Meso-Zeaxanthin on Human Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells in Three Integrated in vitro Paradigms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Front Phramacol. 2021 Nov.

Electronic Technology - Eye Protection from Blue Light - Role of Lutein Mesozeaxanthin & Zeaxanthin

Blue Light from Electronic Technology. Eye Damaging? That is the concern. Everywhere we are constantly exposed to electronic sources of blue light, including smart phones, computer displays, LED and OLED televisions and car lights. While the light emitted from a smartphone is thought to be in the visible spectrum, there is a very high amount of short wave blue light that is also emitted. LED from cars lights, especially at night, may also pose a problem for the retina. Since we are living longer and are exposed continuously to LED lights, there is real danger the retina may be irrevocably harmed.

Natural sunlight (blue light) also causes light-induced damage to the retina, but are less intense than blue light emissions from LED devices. Therefore LED lights significantly increases the potential for toxicity to the retina. (1-4)

• LED (light Emitting Diodes) - Due to their emitting of blue light, may damage the retina if viewed for long periods of time at close distances. White LEDs have an intense amount of blue light. Blue light is very high energy and as such can cause oxidative stress and tissue damage (including the retina). 
• Some researchers recommend restricting internal LED lamps to "white warmth" - 2700K, which is closer to that of traditional incandescent.
• Avoid "cool white" 5000K - 6500K. The brighter the light the more potential for harm to the retina.

 BLUE LIGHT DAMAGES RETINA

Photoreceptors (cones and rods) in the retina provide the neuron interface to convert light to images. These photoceptors reside on the outermost parts of the retina, and are nourished and maintained by an underlying layer termed the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE). Photo induced stress directly affects the health of the retina. The blue light is especially damaging, increasing oxidative stress and can lead to cellular death to either the photoreceptors or the Retinal Epithelium.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)  involves the progressive degradation of the photoreceptors and the  RPE. Blue light can damage and cause cellular death of these critical structures. Oxidative stress and inflammation are believed to be key factors in the development of AMD.

NATURAL PROTECTION AGAINST DAMAGING BLUE LIGHT

• Mesozeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin. Lutein.
  

• Macular Density.
  

   Additionally, lutein, repairs light induced damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) kayer, which is disrupted by the oxidative stress. Much like the protection of the retina cells, lutein repairs the RPE via invoking the Nrf2 endogenous antioxidant system,(10)

FURTHER PROTECTION

• Bilberry Anthocyanins. Increases Antoxidant Protection of Retina. An experimental model of retinal degeneration, produced by visible-light damage, was ameliorated by the protective antioxidant effects of bilberry anthocyanins. (11)

• Sulforaphane. Most potent Nfr2 Activator. 
  In studies involving the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), and oxidative stress, sulforaphane was shown to  significantly up regulate antioxidant protection of the RPE by activating Nrf2 and HO-1. (12)

• Aging Increases Damage from Blue Light in PhotoReceptor cells.              Normal protection of the photoreceptor cells and the supporting retiinal epithelium   layer, is provided by the cells inherent Nrf2 antioxidant protection against oxidative stress. However, aging is known to deplete the protective Nrf2 response, leaving the retina even more susceptible to damage by oxidative insults such as blue light. Therefore, not only does blue light inherently stress the retina and may cause cellular death, but this response is greatly amplified with retinal aging.(13-14)

VISION VITALITY MAX (Mesozeaxanthin | Zeaxanthin | Lutein | Bilberry)

XGEVITY (Glucoraphinin percursor to Sulforaphane)

REFERENCES:

(1) Coleman S. LED Lights Dangerous on Roadways and Off. 2015 Jan.

(2) Renard G, et al. The dangers of blue light. True story. J Fr Ophtalmol.2016 May.

(3) Jaadane I, et al.Retinal damage induced by commercial light emitting diodes (LEDs) Free Radic Biol Med. 2015 Jul.

(4) Krigel A, et al. Light-induced retinal damage using different light sources, protocols and rat strains reveals LED phototoxicity.Neuroscience, 2016 Dec.

(5) Lima VC, et al. Macular pigment in retinal health and disease. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2016 Aug

(6) Nolan JM,  et al. The impact of supplemental macular carotenoids in Alzheimer's disease: a randomized clinical trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015

(7) Orthan, et al. Mesozeaxanthin Protects Retina from Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model. Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2016 Nov

(8) Miyake S, et al. Phase II enzyme induction by a carotenoid, lutein, in a PC12D neuronal cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Apr

(9) Zou X, et al. Zeaxanthin induces Nrf2-mediated phase II enzymes in protection of cell death. Cell Death Dis. 2014 May

(10) Kamoshita M, et al. Lutein acts via multiple antioxidant pathways in the photo-stressed retina. Sci Rep. 2016 Jul.

(11) Wang Y, et al. Retinoprotective Effects of Bilberry Anthocyanins via Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Apoptotic Mechanisms in a Visible Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration Model in Pigmented Rabbits. Molecules. 2015 Dec 

(12) Ye L, et al, Sulforaphane enhances the ability of human retinal pigment epithelial cell against oxidative stress, and its effect on gene expression profile evaluated by microarray analysis. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2013

(13) Sachdeva MM, et al. Nrf2 signaling is impaired in the aging RPE given an oxidative insult. Exp Eye Res. 2014 Feb;

(14) Chen WJ, et al. Nrf2 protects photoreceptor cells from photo-oxidative stress induced by blue light. Exp Eye Res. 2016 Dec