MacuHealth Products

MacuHealth with LMZ3

MacuHealth with LMZ3 is a unique and patented formulation specifically designed to rebuild and maximize macular pigment over a lifetime.

Containing all three critical carotenoids in a patented 10:10:2 ratio consisting of meso-zeaxanthin (10mg), lutein (10mg) and zeaxanthin (2mg), MacuHealthwith LMZ3 is proven through peer-reviewed research to quickly and effectively rebuild macular pigment. Over $7.5 million of investment has been made to scientifically test the MacuHealth formulation. This robust, peer-reviewed and published evidence demonstrates MacuHealth‘s ability to be absorbed in the gut, find its way into blood and to be deposited at the target tissue (macula), where it is known as macular pigment. This research has shown that supplementation with MacuHealthwith LMZ3 on a daily basis over a three year period maximizes macular pigment not only at the fovea, but across the entire macula, in both healthy eyes and in diseased eyes. The result of rebuilding and maximizing macular pigment is twofold:

  1. It improves visual performance by reducing glare, and by improving contrast sensitivity (i.e. appreciation of faintness).
  2.  A healthy amount of macular pigment limits and reduces oxidative stress (which refers to injury caused by free radicals, which has a harmful effect on the macula over time), thereby protecting our photoreceptor cells from damage and reducing our risk of blindness in later life.

MacuHealthwith LMZ3 is approved and recognized by Informed Sport (http://www.informed-sport.com/) and Informed Choice (http://www.informed-choice.org/). This means that every manufacturing lot of MacuHealth is tested for purity and that the contents in the capsules match the ingredients on the label.

MacuHealth with LMZ3  – Active Ingredients
Meso-Zeaxanthin 10mg
Lutein 10mg
Zeaxanthin 2mg
 
MacuHealth with LMZ3  – Inactive Ingredients
Sunflower Oil  
Gelatin Capsule: Gelatin
Glycerin
Purified Water
Annato
Marigold Flower Extract  
Yellow Beeswax  
Dl Alpha Tocopherol  
 

MacuHealthPLUS+

MacuHealthPLUS+= AREDS2 formulation, with two important distinctions, as follows:
1. Zinc reduced from 80mg to 25mg, thereby compliant with RDA (recommended dietary allowance) and therefore precluding the possibility of any increased risk for disease progression in AMD patients with a particular genetic background. Of note, AREDS2 (Age Related Eye Disease Study) has shown that there was no significant difference between the AMD group who received 25mg of zinc compared to the AMD group who received 80mg of zinc (in terms of benefits), supporting further the decision to recommend a lower (25mg) zinc dose for patients with AMD;
2. Addition of 10mg of meso-zeaxanthin (the third and centrally dominant macular carotenoid), thereby facilitating maximum augmentation of macular pigment and facilitating optimization of visual performance in eyes with AMD.
The evidence for MacuHealthPLUS+
MacuHealthPLUS+ is specifically designed for those patients already diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute published a study called AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease Study) in 2001 that assessed thousands of patients who had advanced AMD. More recently, the second part of this study, AREDS 2, was published in 2013. Here is what they found:

  1. AREDS 2 demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of 9% in risk of disease progression to advanced AMD for patients receiving two of the three macular carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) when compared with patients not receiving these macular pigments.
  2.  The reduction in concentration of zinc from 80mg to 25mg (as found in MacuHealthPLUS+) did not have an adverse effect on the desirable and observed reduced risk of progression to advanced AMD.

More recently, another study of the AREDS2 population showed that some subjects with a particular genetic background had accelerated progression to advanced AMD while on the high dosage of zinc (80mg). Therefore, by reducing the amount of zinc (as in MacuHealthPLUS+), the possibility of provoking progression in AMD patients with a particular genetic background is negated (thereby precluding the need to perform complex genetic testing on patients).
Finally, the inclusion of meso-zeaxanthin into a formulation is essential for risk reduction for visual loss and disease progression in eyes with non-advanced AMD, because:

  1.  The inclusion of all three macular carotenoids in a meso-zeaxanthin:lutein:zeaxanthin (MZ:L:Z [mg]) ratio of 10:10:2 is essential if the atypical central dip in the spatial profile of macular pigment (a known risk factor for AMD) is to be normalized;
  2. Augmentation of macular pigment in AMD, across the macula in AMD-afflicted eyes, is best achieved where the three macular carotenoids are given in a MZ:L:Z (mg) ratio of 10:10:2 (as in MacuHealthPLUS+);
  3. Visual improvement, in terms of contrast sensitivity and glare disability, are greater in a formulation that contains the three macular carotenoids in a MZ:L:Z (mg) ratio of 10:10:2 (as in MacuHealthPLUS+) than in alternative formulations;
  4. Following supplementation with L, Z and MZ, serum concentration of MZ is the sole serological determinant of macular pigment augmentation

Conclusion
The evidence base for supplementation in patients with AMD favors an AREDS2 formulation, but without dangerous levels of zinc, and using a supplement that contains all three macular carotenoids in a MZ:L:Z (mg) ratio of 10:10:2. The only such commercially available supplement is MacuHealthPLUS+.
When using MacuHealthPLUS+, eye care professionals can be sure that their patients are benefiting from the AREDS2 formulation, without recourse to complex genetic testing, and also know that they are taking full advantage of the benefits of using all three macular carotenoids.

Recommended Dosage: Take one softgel Supplement 1 capsule (Carotenoid Formula) and one Supplement 2 tablet (Antioxidant Formula) each day, preferably with a meal or with a diary product to increase absorption.

sightrisk USA™, exclusively distributed by MacuHealth Distribution, Inc., was developed specifically for health care practitioners through the collaboration by a team of research scientists who assessed and evaluated both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for thousands of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and through a detailed review and analysis of over 300 published scientific manuscripts. The proprietary algorithm behind the sightrisk USA™ questionnaire prioritizes, compiles and weighs the risk factors based on each patient’s answers, creating a unique report that the eye care professional and staff can review with their patients. In this way, the risk for AMD in later life amongst young and middle aged healthy people can be identified and quantified. By so doing, and by implementing evidence-based and personalized recommendations, the risk for blindness later life can be reduced.

Modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking and a poor nutritional diet have been scientifically and clinically shown to increase the risk of developing AMD. Educating patients and continued monitoring of patient choices as early in life as possible will help reduce these risks.

Combining sightrisk USA™ with MacuHealth with LMZ3 or MacuHealthPLUS+ will result in optimal patient care and education. Eye care practices that embrace these combined technologies will discover that many patients who do not have any pigmentary changes or soft drusen present will benefit from enriching their macular pigment, thereby reducing risk of blindness later in life while optimizing visual performance today. Ask your eye care provider to give you a sightrisk USA™ evaluation and discuss the benefits of supplementation with MacuHealth during your annual comprehensive eye exam.