(December 6, 2010, 2010, Parsippany, NJ) Considerable scientific evidence now suggests that nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids can play a beneficial role in maintaining eye health.
The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health is conducting its second comprehensive Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS2) to evaluate the effects of these nutrients on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated vision loss and is using DSM’s FloraGLO® Lutein, OPTISHARP™ Zeaxanthin, and ROPUFA® Omega-3 fatty acids in this major clinical trial.
“This study is very exciting,” said Dr. James Elliott, DSM’s NAA Director of Nutritional Science, “and we believe it may provide further support on the eye health benefits of lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and demonstrate their potential to help save the sight of thousands of individuals every year.”
Researchers in AREDS2 are providing daily supplementation of 10 mg of FloraGLO® Lutein and 2 mg OPTISHARP™ Zeaxanthin and/or ROPUFA® Omega-3 fatty acids in people at moderate to high risk for the progression of advanced AMD. Data is being collected and assessed on approximately 4,000 participants aged 50 to 85 who, at the time of enrollment, had either bilateral large drusen, a clinically recognized ocular finding that can lead to blindness, or large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the other.
The world’s leading ingredient supplier to food, beverage, and dietary supplement manufacturers and the widely acknowledged global leader in providing eye health ingredient solutions, DSM Nutritional Products has an international network of technical service, production and distribution facilities and has a major sales and marketing presence in more than 100 countries. In addition to its vast ingredient portfolio, DSM provides unparalleled processing and manufacturing expertise in developing innovative formulations that provide optimum performance and health appeal.
DSM – the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. creates solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance. Its end markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM manages its business with a focus on the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity, which it pursues simultaneously and in parallel. DSM has annual net sales of about $10 billion and employs some 22,700 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com