Bio-gen Extracts recently completed a human clinical study which reportedly found lutein & zeaxanthin supplementation increased macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in healthy adult subjects. The study further correlated this finding with central foveal thickness (CFT), important for providing the sharpest image in the eye.
Observational and interventional studies have suggested that a combination of lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of various eye diseases, especially late forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lute-gen, the company’s eye health supplement, is a natural extract of marigold flowers containing lutein zeaxanthin-isomers in the ratio 5:1.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, three-arm clinical study found lutein and zeaxanthin to be safe when used in 93 healthy adult subjects using Lute-gen (12 mg total). It also found a statistically significant change in the MPOD and the CFT in the active treatment group and a positive correlation between the two measurements. The fovea is a tiny depression in the macula where macular pigment levels peak.
The company derives Lute-gen from the Tagetes erecta species of marigold under a seed-to-drum programme which provides traceability and transparency throughout the entire process. Each lot of non-GMO, vegan and solvent, pesticide and allergen-free Lute-gen can be traced to the time it was harvested and the acre where it grew, the company says.
The company is continuing to invest in further research and strengthening their supply chain, aiming to provide the most value-added and cost-effective solutions to the consumer.
