Lutein Study Shows Benefits for Night Driving Scientists in China have discovered that regular lutein supplementation may improve eye health and night

vision in a study participated by occupational drivers.1This study adds to a growing body of research that

provides convincing evidence that lutein may help improve visual performance when ambient illumination

is low. Nutraceutical business owners may want to consider expanding their product line to include well-

researched eye health supplements.

What is night blindness?

Night blindness, or nyctalopia, is the reduced ability or inability to see things in dark or dim places.The

eyes take a longer time to adapt to darkness or do not adapt at all. Night blindness is related to the way

the eye receives light. Normally, light travels through the cornea and lens and lands on the retina, found

at the back of the eye. The retina consists of millions of photoreceptors that convert light rays into

electrical signals that are sent to the brain and an image is formed. Photoreceptors are of two types: rods

and cones. Rods see only black and white whereas cones see colors. Rods are needed to function in dim

light; cones in bright light.

The macular is a yellow spot (about 5 millimeters in diameter) on the retina. A thin macular pigment

allows harmful blue light or UV rays to penetrate and destroy cells. Both lutein and zeaxanthinare

carotenoids found abundantly in the macular and are capable of filtering out blue lightand UV rays that

aredetrimental for the photoreceptors in the retina. Lutein and zeaxanthin may help maintain the macular

pigment and supplementation is considered to be a valid nutritional approach against night blindness and

promoting eye health.

Lutein Supplementation May Benefit Night Driving

Although many studies show the benefits of lutein for eye health, the Chinese study,published in

Nutrition,wanted to focus on lutein supplementation and its benefits for occupational drivers. Night

blindness can be an occupational hazard for those whose occupation is to drive or for elderly people who

suffer from macular degeneration and therefore have poor night vision. The study recruited 120 people

who had been driving for about 10 hours a day for two years prior to the study. The participants were

randomly chosen to receive either lutein supplement (20 mg) or a placebo daily for one year. Visual

acuity, serum lutein concentrations, macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and visual performance

were measured at regular intervals. Researchers observed significant increases in contrast and glare

sensitivity in the group given lutein supplements, as well as slight improvement in visual acuity.

The increase in contrast and glare sensitivity is of particular significance in night vision or places of low

illumination, suggesting that lutein supplementation may benefit driving at night and other spatial

discrimination tasks carried out under reduced light.

Causes and Impact of Night Blindness

Most night blindness is caused by a deficiency in vitamin or a progressive degeneration of the retina

which is age-related. Night blindness is likely to have caused several accidents but documentation to

prove this is hard to find. Night blindness progresses gradually and many may not realize they suffer

from it unless they undergo a vision test.

According to a survey conducted by the American Foundation for the Blind, when asked what would

negatively impact their lives the most, most responders put losing vision at the top of the list along with

paralysis.2

By the age of 50, most people will have problems reading fine print and seeing in darkness or in low light

conditions. High blood pressure and diabetes can contribute to deteriorating eye health as well. By the

age of 65, half the patients will have cataracts and by age 75, people develop AMD which is the leading

cause of blindness among seniors.According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 10

million Americans have macular degeneration.3-6

Providing Your Customers with Nutritional Supplements for Eye Health

With the aging population growing rapidly, supplement business owners can help seniors the health of

their eyes by selling supplements that contain high-quality ingredients known for promoting retinal

health.Eye health supplements are generally manufactured as capsules, soft gels and powders.

Look for softgel manufacturers who have an excellent reputation for manufacturing high-quality

supplements within a GMP-certified facility. Additional services such as in-house logo/label designs,

packaging, order fulfillment and drop shipping services can help you save time and promote efficiency.

Capsule manufacturing of lutein supplements is popular but it’s important to choose the right contract

supplement manufacturer for producing a high-quality eye health supplement you would be proud to put

your label on.

References:

1. Lutein supplementation improves visual performance in Chinese drivers: 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Nutrition - 28 January 2013 (10.1016/j.nut.2012.10.017), Yuan Yao, Qing-huaQiu, Xing-Wei Wu, Zheng-yuanCai, Shan Xu, Xiao-qing Liang. http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-9007(12)00428-5/abstract

2. Eye Health Statistics at a Glance, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2009. http://www.aao.org/newsroom/press_kit/upload/Eye-Health-Statistics-June-2009.pdf

3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2002). Your guide to lowering high blood pressure:

Available at: snipurl.com/25nzb. Last accessed April 24, 2008.

4. McAlpine RR, Morris AD, Emslie-Smith A, James P, Evans JM. The annual incidence of diabetic

complications in a population of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic

Medicine. 2005;22:348–352.

5. Research to Prevent Blindness fact sheet (2008). Cataract Fact Sheet. Available at:

snipurl.com/blindness. Last accessed April 24, 2008.

6. National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (2000). Don't lose sight of age-related macular

degeneration. NIH Publication No. 02-3462.