How to Choose Eye and Vision Supplements - FAQ
WHAT IS ZEALUT-DENA MADE OF?
Zealut-Dena contains zeaxanthin and lutein. Healthy nutrition is vital for maintaining eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the two most important eye nutrients that help protect the retina of the eye and reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataract. Our bodies are unable to produce lutein and zeaxanthin, so we have to receive them from food or through supplements such as Zealut-Dena.
WHAT IS LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN?
Lutein and zeaxanthin belong to xanthophylls (meaning “yellow leaf”) natural pigments from the group of carotenoids, which include 600 natural species. Xanthophylls are mainly found in yellow-orange fruits and dark-green vegetables.
At birth, everyone has the necessary levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. However, exposure to adverse environmental factors, the destructive action of blue light and malnutrition result in a decrease in the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin with age. The human body has a very limited ability to synthesize these molecules; therefore, their supply from external sources is vital.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the compounds that are largely responsible for the preservation of our vision. They are provided by nature to protect our eyes. Therefore, the intake of these compounds in important for maintaining our eye health. Zealut-Dena provides a balanced source of lutein and zeaxanthin for the human body.
HOW MUCH LUTEIN SHOULD I TAKE DAILY?
According to an estimate by the American Optometric Association, average dietary consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin in the USA is only 1.7 mg/day, whereas the recommended intake is at least 7-10 mg/day of lutein and zeaxanthin. An easy way to compensate this deficit is to take supplements that contain lutein and zeaxanthin, such as Zealut-Dena. One capsule of Zealut-Dena contains 10 mg of lutein and 1 mg of zeaxanthin, assuring the daily-recommended quantities of these nutrients.
WHAT ARE SOME FOOD SOURCES OF LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN?
The highest concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin are found in green vegetables, since plants also use them to protect their photosynthetic apparatus from excessive light. The most lutein and zeaxanthin rich vegetables are spinach, broccoli, kale, green peas and collard greens.
Lutein and zeaxanthin have particularly important qualities: lutein preserves its beneficial properties upon thermal treatment of food products, whereas small amounts of zeaxanthin can be synthesized from lutein directly in the retina when needed.
However, most people do not get enough lutein and zeaxanthin from their diets. According to an estimate by the American Optometric Association, average dietary consumption of lutein and zeaxanthin in the USA is only 1.7 mg/day, whereas the recommended intake is at least 7-10 mg/day. An easy way to compensate for this deficit is to take supplements that contain these compounds, such as Zealut-Dena.
WHAT IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME (CVS)? HOW CAN ZEALUT-DENA BE BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE WITH CVS?
In many people, prolonged use of electronic screens results in various visual symptoms, such as eyestrain, headaches, ocular discomfort, dry eye, diplopia (double vision), and blurred vision. Taken together, these symptoms are referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Although computer screens do not emit particularly damaging UV light, they do emit blue light, which is also damaging to the retina and might be one of the factors in CVS development. In particular, light emitted by light-emitting diodes (LED), which are used in recent models of computer monitors (as well as energy-saving light bulbs), have been found to be damaging to the retina, presumably because of oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species this light generates. Reactive oxygen species are active radicals that indiscriminately oxidize proteins, lipids and other components of living cells. By focusing light on the retina, the lens further increases retinal damage. Nature has designed an efficient defense mechanism against light damage -- two related compounds from the class of carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin. Nevertheless, our bodies are unable to produce lutein and zeaxanthin, and we have to receive them from food. Most people do not get enough lutein and zeaxanthin from their diets. Therefore, supplements such as Zealut-Dena can help compensate for the deficit of lutein and zeaxanthin. Taking at least one capsule of Zealut-Dena daily is expected to be sufficient to alleviate the CVS symptoms, and would be particularly efficient for people with low dietary intake of these carotenoids, i.e. those who do not eat enough green vegetables. It should be also noted that the safety of long-term lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation has been confirmed by clinical studies.
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE ZEALUT-DENA IF I HAVE DIABETES?
People with diabetes are in the risk group of diabetic retinopathy. This eye disease affects >8,000 people in the USA each year and accounts for 12% of new cases of blindness. Oxidative stress is one of the major factors in the development of diabetic retinopathy. It results in an increase in the production of a number of pro-inflammatory molecules in the retina, some of which promote cell death. To protect our eyes from oxidative stress we need to accumulate enough zeaxanthin and lutein in the retina of the eye. Our bodies are unable to produce lutein and zeaxanthin naturally, and we have to receive them from food. Concentration of these carotenoids in the blood depends on their intake. From the blood, they are transported into the eye tissues; their content in the retina follows their intake with food with a delay of 2 weeks.
Concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood and macula is 2–3 times lower in diabetic retinopathy patients than in healthy people. An independent study reported that taking lutein and zeaxanthin at a proportion similar to that of Zealut-Dena for 3 months significantly improved visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and macular edema in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Thus, Zealut-Dena can be recommended to patients with this disease.
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE ZEALUT-DENA IF I HAVE CATARACT?
Cataract, along with age-related macular degeneration, is a major cause of blindness in elderly people. Cataract is an opacity of the lens that develops gradually over many years and eventually prevents light from reaching the retina. Oxidative stress, particularly that caused by UV light, plays an important role in cataract development by promoting oxidation of lens proteins. An efficient natural defense mechanism against light- and oxidative stress–induced damage in the eye is provided by two related compounds: lutein and zeaxanthin.
Three large-scale studies conducted in the USA in the last quarter of the 20th century concluded that lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids associated with the reduced risk of nuclear cataract development: their intake reduced the risk by as much as half. Most people do not get enough lutein and zeaxanthin from their diets, which is why supplements such as Zealut-Dena help compensate the deficit of those compounds and protect our eyes. The intake of lutein and zeaxanthin (6–7 mg/day, i.e. less than the content of 1 Zealut-Dena capsule) was found to significantly reduce the number of required cataract surgeries.
WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)? HOW CAN ZEALUT-DENA BE BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE WITH AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness, especially in the elderly. AMD affects the macula, the central area of the retina that provides high-acuity vision. The macula contains a high density of light-sensitive (photoreceptor) cells. The photoreceptor cells of the macula have relatively low sensitivity and need bright light to function. Yet, the flip side is that the macula is most vulnerable to the harmful effects of light, which causes the formation of so-called reactive oxygen species, active radicals that indiscriminately oxidize proteins, lipids and other components of living cells. In patients with AMD, light is particularly damaging because it synergistically accelerates the death of photoreceptor cells. Fortunately, nature has designed an efficient defense mechanism against light damage.
Carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin protect the retina against light damage. They filter out the most damaging short-wavelength irradiation (blue light and UV) and neutralize the reactive oxygen species. Nevertheless, our bodies are unable to produce lutein and zeaxanthin, so we have to receive them from food or through supplements such as Zealut-Dena.
Some scientists reported that in AMD patients, longer supplementation (for up to a year) improves contrast sensitivity and visual acuity.
HOW SOON SHOULD I EXPECT THE RESULT OF TAKING ZEALUT-DENA?
The effect of daily supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin for 8 weeks has been found to significantly increase the content of macular pigment as soon as after 2 weeks of daily intake.
HOW LONG CAN I TAKE ZEALUT-DENA?
The absence of side effects and safety of long-term intake of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements have been confirmed by clinical studies. Zealut-Dena contains only zeaxanthin and lutein as active ingredients. Therefore, there are no time restrictions on regular intake of Zealut-Dena if consumed at approved daily dosage (1-2 capsules a day).