Lutein May Provide 10 Years' Worth of Eye Protection

Source: E Berson et al., "Clinical trial of lutein in patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A," Archives of Ophthalmology, vol. 128, no. 4 (April 2010): 403-411.

Daily lutein supplementation may help protect against loss of sight in those with retinitis pigmentosa, according to a four-year study.

The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study on 225 nonsmoking patients, ages 18 to 60, with retinitis pigmentosa tested the effects of daily supplementation with 12 mg of FloraGLO lutein against placebo. All patients also received 15,000 IU/day of vitamin A. Throughout the study, the subjects were also advised to eat one to two servings of oily fish per week to increase their omega-3 intake.

The researchers reported that all patients showed visual decline during the four years of the study. However, the lutein-supplemented group showed less decline than the placebo group. The researchers said that the overall decline in combined central and midperipheral visual fields was slowest in those with the highest serum lutein levels or the highest increase in macular pigment optical density.

The authors also estimated that supplementing with lutein, combined with intake of vitamin A and oily fish, could provide three to 10 years' worth of protection against further loss of sight.

Rat Study: Chirositol May Lower Blood Glucose Levels

Source: G Gluck et al., "Synergistic effects of d-chiro-inositol and manganese on blood glucose and body weight of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats," Current Bioactive Compounds, vol. 6, no. 2 (June 2010): 90-96.

In a 21-day rat study, researchers determined that Cyvex Nutrition's (Irvine, CA) branded ingredient Chirositol, both alone and in combination with manganese sulfate, reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic mellitus-induced rats. Chirositol is derived from carob juice that contains d-chiro-inositol (>95% d-chiro-inositol), which acts as a secondary messenger for insulin.

Results showed that a 12-day oral supplementation with Chirositol decreased blood glucose levels by a combined 23%, when compared to the control group. When combined with manganese sulfate, Chirositol was found to decrease blood glucose levels by 40% over the same time period.

The researchers also noted a decrease in overall body weight of both female and male rats that received the Chirositol and manganese sulfate combo (females lost 25% body weight, while males lost 21%).

"As worldwide obesity numbers continue to rise, we are seeing a large increase in individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance, as a result," said Matt Phillips, president, Cyvex Nutrition. "Our Chirositol ingredient offers a clinically proven option for those looking to naturally reduce their blood glucose level and overall body weight."

Multispecies Probiotic Minimizes IBS Symptoms

Physicians from the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic conducted a clinical case study to determine whether a multispecies probiotic can minimize symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Researchers evaluated 25 patients with IBS, as determined by Rome III criteria, over a period of 60 days. Patients supplemented with a multispecies probiotic product, UAS Laboratories' (Eden Prairie, MN) Probioplus DDS. With an overall probiotic potency of 12 billion CFU/g, the product contains a special strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus (DDS-1 strain), plus Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium lactis.

The most significant improvements were reported after 60 days of treatment, with 84% of patients showing improvement in abdominal pain, 73.9% in bloating, 92% in belching, 88% in flatulence, 90.9% in diarrhea, and 86.9% in constipation.

geniVida Blend May Build Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women

Istockphoto.

DSM Nutritional Products (Parsippany, NJ) reported that a clinical trial showed that its geniVida Bone Blend supplement increases bone mineral density by up to 3.4% in postmenopausal women, after only six months of supplementation. DSM reported these results at the International Osteoporosis Foundation's World Congress on Osteoporosis in May.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in collaboration with Creighton University (Omaha, NE) on 58 healthy, early-postmenopausal women.

geniVida Bone Blend is a patented combination of DSM's geniVida brand of pure genistein, Ropufa brand EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins Quali-D D3 and Quali-K K₁.

"This new evidence complements previous data showing significant menopause symptom (hot flash) relief for postmenopausal women supplementing with geniVida genistein," says William Black, vice president of new nutritional ingredients for DSM.

Testing Confirms Lutein, Zeaxanthin's Role in Eye Health

During baseline testing of 111 subjects for a one-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, researchers confirmed that although the level of macular pigment, comprised of lutein and zeaxanthin from the diet, varied widely among subjects, it had a significant impact on glare disability, photostress recovery time, and contrast enhancement.

The baseline test was done for a current trial investigating whether supplementing with Kemin LC's and DSM's FloraGLO lutein (10 mg/day) and OptiSharp zeaxanthin (2 mg/day) leads to improved visual performance by increasing the level of macular pigment. The test tablets feature DSM's Actilease technology to maximize the absorption of lutein and zeaxanthin.

The baseline testing results were presented in May at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Ashitaba Chalcones May Help Battle Visceral Fat

Japan Bio Science Laboratories' (Osaka, Japan) chalcone powder from Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei), a plant native to Japan, has been shown in a clinical study to help reduce visceral and subcutaneous fat. The results also showed a reduction in weight and in waist and hip ratio.

The randomized, double-blind, parallel group study on 26 slightly obese male and female patients required that subjects take 200 mg/day of flavonoid Ashitaba chalcone after dinner for eight weeks. After the eight weeks, the subjects' total, visceral, and subcutaneous fat areas were measured by CT scan.