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What you need to know about age-related vision loss before it's too late! |
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Friday, 02 July 2010 00:00 |
An Important Announcement from The A.C. Grace Company Research & Development Center
Macular Degeneration: What you need to know about age-related vision loss - before it's too late!
A common complaint among baby boomers is their failing eyesight. Unfortunately, age-related vision loss can become severe, and even lead to blindness. This condition is known as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD); it affects more than 1.65 million Americans, and is the leading cause of blindness in people over 55.
An Antioxidant Combination with Vitamin E and Omega-3 Krill Oil may help
AMD causes the deterioration of the macular (part of the retina). It is thought to be caused by free radicals attacking the eyes, and the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. This, and the fact that the lens contains high levels of Vitamins E and C1, has led to studies focusing on antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids. Antioxidants, like Vitamin E, work by helping the eyes filter out the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, and by keeping free radicals from damaging the retina.
For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded that a high dietary intake of beta carotene, vitamins E and C, and zinc were associated with a substantially reduced risk of AMD in elderly persons.2 And, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), showed treatment with antioxidants and zinc reduced the risk of progression of moderate macular degeneration to advanced macular degeneration by 25%.3
A follow up to the AREDS study found that inflammation is implicated in AMD. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in participants with advanced AMD, compared to those with no AMD. Further analysis revealed that CRP levels were closely associated with intermediate and advanced stages of AMD.4 Omega-3 rich krill oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. High intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, along with the AREDS antioxidants, were found to reduce the risk of AMD.5
While both fish and krill oil contain beneficial Omega-3s, Krill oil contains 15 times more Omega-3 than fish oil, and has a different chemical structure that the body absorbs and utilizes better than fish oil Omega-3s.6 A study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that 300 mg of krill oil daily inhibited inflammation within seven to 14 days.
Only Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols provides anti-inflammatory, as well as antioxidant protection. Combined with Krill Oil, Vitamin E mixed tocopherols may provide the best results.
Good eye health is important for living a fulfilling, independent life during middle age and beyond. Annual checkups with an optometrist, a healthy diet, and supplementing with antioxidants and Omega-3 may be key for preventing AMD; or reducing the progression of this serious disease if symptoms have already developed.
References
1 Sharon Palmer, Contributing Editor, "Nutritional Looks at Eye Health" Virgo Publishing, http://www.foodproductdesign.com/
2 Redmer van Leeuwen, MD, PhD; Sharmila Boekhoorn, MD; Johannes R. Vingerling, MD, PhD; Jacqueline C. M. Witteman, PhD; Caroline C. W. Klaver, MD, PhD; Albert Hofman, MD, PhD; Paulus T. V. M. de Jong, MD, PhD, "Dietary Intake of Antioxidants and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration", JAMA. 2005;294:3101-3107
3 The Eye Digest, University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary, http://www.agingeye.net/visionbasics/nutritionandvision.php
4 Seddon J, Gensler G, Milton RC, Klein ML, Rifai N. "Association Between C-Reactive Protein and Age-Related Macular Degeneration," JAMA. 2004;291:704-710
5 Stephen Daniells, "Omega-3 plus AREDS supplement works for eye health: Study", Nutra Ingredients USA, 6/16/09
6 Andrew Weil, M.D., "Consider Fish Oil?", http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400239/Consider-Krill-Oil.html
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Alpha-Tocopherol Inhibits Tocotrienol Uptake |
Alpha-Tocopherol a Detriment to Tocotrienol Benefits
Japanese researchers have previously shown delta-tocotrienol to be the most potent anti-angiogenic Vitamin E compound. (1, 2)
In a recent study, the same researchers tested the influence of tocopherol on the cytotoxic effects of delta-tocotrienol in human colorectal cancer cells. Tocopherol, and especially alpha-tocopherol was found to interfere with delta-tocotrienol’s cytotoxic effects. Further, results indicate that alpha-tocopherol is not only less cytotic to cancer cells, but also reduces the anti-cancer effects of delta-tocotrienol by inhibiting its cellular uptake. (3)
A.C. Grace Company’s UNIQUE E® Tocotrienol is a naturally tocopherol-free tocotrienol derived from the rainforest annatto plant. Uniquely, UNIQUE E® Tocotrienol provides only the two most potent delta- and gamma-tocotrienol isomers, thus providing maximum tocotrienol benefit.
For information on the benefits provided by Annatto Tocotrienol, watch a recent segment on CNBC with Hugh Downs and Dr. Barrie Tan of American River Nutrition, the supplier of A.C. Grace Company’s UNIQUE E® Tocotrienol.
Watch this TOCOTRIENOL segment.
Read the PubMed abstract.
References
1. Shibata, A., et al., delta-Tocotrienol suppresses VEGF induced angiogenesis whereas alpha-tocopherol does not. J Agric Food Chem, 2009. 57(18): p. 8696-704.
2. Shibata, A., et al., Tumor anti-angiogenic effect and mechanism of action of delta-tocotrienol. Biochem Pharmacol, 2008. 76(3): p. 330-9.
3. Shibata, A., et al., alpha-Tocopherol attenuates the cytotoxic effect of delta-tocotrienol in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.
A.C. Grace Company NOTE: Since the launch of our UNIQUE E® Tocotrienol product in 2008, we have been educating doctors and their patients, health food stores and consumers on the tremendous benefits of high-delta tocotrienol derived from the Annatto Plant in Brazil. This recent study validates what we have known from the beginning – that alpha-tocopherol inhibits the absorption of tocotrienols if taken together! This is great news for many who still have questions about what tocotrienols are and how they can help you in your diet.
Keep in mind that this does not mean that the tocopherol forms of the Vitamin E complex are not effective! A PURE, Natural Mixed Tocopherols Concentrate product HIGH in Gamma-Tocopherol and Alpha-Tocopherol, and including Delta- and Beta-Tocopherol is still recommended as a powerful anti-oxidant and major supporter of the cardiovascular and circulatory system. With 93% of Americans being deficient in Vitamin E, it is very important to maintain a protocol using a GREAT Mixed Tocopherols with your morning meal and Annatto Tocotrienol with your evening meal.
Read about UNIQUE E® Tocotrienol and UNIQUE E® Mixed Tocopherols Concentrate at our website: www.acgrace.com.
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Sarcopenia and Vitamin E: What You Need to Know |
From The A.C. Grace Company Research & Development Center
Sarcopenia and Vitamin E: What You Need to Know
You may or may not have heard of a condition known as sarcopenia—but if you’re in the age group of 60 or older, you very well may be suffering the adverse affects of it, and you definitely need to know about it.
Simply put, sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass that has an impact on strength, power and function. In the U.S., sarcopenia affects 45 percent over age 60 and more than half of those over 80 years. Recent medical evidence has linked sarcopenia to increased falls and fractures (osteoporosis), the 6th leading cause of death in those aged 65 and older1.
A recent study has also found an ethnicity issue: that elderly Mexicans are more susceptible than African-Americans or Caucasians to a condition called sacopenic obesity—which means less muscle mass and greater total body fat2.
The FDA has also made another interesting connection—that statins, the class of drug commonly used to lower cholesterol, are known to commonly cause myopathy as a side effect3. Myopathy is a muscular disease in which the muscle fibers do not function for any one of many reasons, resulting in muscular weakness. While myopathy is a disease and sarcopenia is a condition, the net effect of both is the same; hence it could be inferred that a supplement which benefits sarcopenia might very well benefit myopathy as well.
On The Positive Side
The good news is that, while you may be suffering from this condition, two different studies have indicated that vitamin E may have a positive effect in reducing the effects of sarcopenia. One study, conducted by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions on 669 non-disabled to severely disabled community-dwelling women aged 70 to 79, found that the nutrients carotenoid and alpha-tocopherol (one of several forms of vitamin E) were independently associated with higher strength measures. This means that the weakening effects of sarcopenia were being negated4.
A second study, conducted in November of 2008, was conducted on rats, but the findings were nonetheless compelling. This study found that the ability of leucine (a vital amino acid) to stimulate muscle protein synthesis (a process required to build muscle mass) significantly decreased in relation to age. This defect was reversed when the aged rats were supplemented with several antioxidants, including vitamin E. This study indicated that vitamin E contributed to the reversal of the decline in muscle mass—which is, of course, sarcopenia5.
The Right Vitamin E
Vitamin E is already known for its benefits in supporting cardiovascular and circulatory health, heart disease, blood flow, cholesterol level management, pre-diabetes, wounds, scars, burns, and many other health concerns. It is therefore evident that regular intake of vitamin E is beneficial—but it is also important that the most absorbable vitamin E is taken.
First, it should be natural, not synthetic, as a body is natural and not synthetic. Much of the vitamin E sold on the consumer market today is synthetic.
Second, much of the vitamin E sold today is of a single type or from a single source. The problem with this is that vitamin E activity doesn't come from one single molecule, but from a family of related molecules that have been found to provide the best benefit when working in combination with one another.
Since 1962, the A. C. Grace Company has been providing the purest form of vitamin E on the market—that also brings the benefits of the entire spectrum of vitamin E types. Doctors all over the world have been using A. C. Grace products and have been recommending them to patients for almost five decades, simply and only because of their effectiveness.
If you are suffering the effects of sarcopenia, A. C. Grace vitamin E supplements may help you.
References
1 Sloan Trends, Inc. December 2009
2 Article: ELDERLY MEXICANS HAVE LESS MUSCLE AND GREATER TOTAL AND TRUNCAL FAT COMPARED TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND CAUCASIANS WITH THE SAME BMI. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, Volume 13, Number 10, 2009.
3 Article: FDA: Statin Zocor causes muscle injury. Foodconsumer.org March 20, 2010.
http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Drug/zocor_causes_muscle_injury_3010100402.html
4 Study: Carotenoid and vitamin E status are associated with indicators of sarcopenia among older women living in the community. The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD Dec 15, 2003
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14959951?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4
5 Study: Antioxidant supplementation restores defective leucine stimulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle from old rats. Centre de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, France. November 2008
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18936220?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1
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FTC Greatly Expanding Potential Regulation of Dietary Supplement Market |
A New Call to Action from the Natural Products Association
May 21, 2010
FTC Powers Bill Moves to Next Step: Legislation greatly expanding potential regulation of the dietary supplement market moves to a critical phase
Dear NPA Member: [A.C. Grace Company NOTE: We are proud members of the NPA]
Yesterday, Financial Services Reform (S.3217) passed the Senate. While expansion of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) powers was kept out of the Senate bill, now the House and Senate must work out the differences between the chambers' versions. The expansions being discussed could have a dire impact on the way you do business.
Many of your responded to the last call to contact your senators, and I think you deserve some of the credit for the decision of the Senate not to include the FTC powers provision in the bill they passed. Now, we need you to act again by contacting both your representatives and senators today, urging them to focus on strengthening the stability of our economy, not regulating industries that had nothing to do with the financial crisis. At a time when businesses are struggling to both survive and create new jobs, adding burdensome new regulations and ceding more authority over your business to the FTC is just what the economy does not need.
Now is the time that your voice matters most.
Should these additional powers be granted to the FTC, you can expect to see the following:
• The FTC creating advertising guidelines that are inconsistent with what is allowed under DSHEA and the FDA
• The FTC acting as a legislative body, creating “rules” for industries like ours in areas in which it has no expertise
• The FTC levying fines against businesses for practices it deems illegal without allowing the business to change its policies
• The FTC levying fines against companies for “aiding and abetting” wrongdoing even when the companies did not know a violation was occurring
• The FTC making, approving, and policing rules with virtually no oversight
I encourage you to take action and send a new message to your members of Congress, urging them to OPPOSE the FTC provision.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Sincerely,
John Gay
Executive Director and CEO
Natural Products Association
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About the Natural Products Association
Founded in 1936, the Natural Products Association is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. The Natural Products Association represents more than 10,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.
www.NPAinfo.org
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