Enough information exists to give you a fighting chance to either prevent or 
significantly postpone many major eye conditions if you take action early enough. Eye conditions include glaucoma, macular degeneration (MD), astigmatism, and cataracts. A major study on macular degeneration using a vitamin mineral formula showed it worked for moderate to advanced MD but not for early stages. A small study out of Italy found a nutrient formula that works for early MD. CoQ10, Omega 3 fish oils, and Acetyl L-Carnitine. See ** below.
Some of the issues that will be discussed here include mitochondrial energy output, inflammatory factors, blood vessel integrity, fatty acids, mineral balance, and cell membrane pumps. These may sound foreign now, but they are the very same processes that underline most degenerative conditions. There is a strong link of eye conditions to artery and heart health. ref for Mito energy and MD, ref
Energy Consuming PUMPS
Located in the membrane of most cells are numerous pumps. They move minerals either in or out of cells. Minerals that easily flow into cells have to be pumped out, and vice versa. There are two pumps of concern here, the calcium magnesium pump and the sodium potassium pump. Both calcium and sodium balances are upset in eye conditions. In the cells of the clear eye lens, sodium has to be pumped out to prevent a build up and altered balance which could cause a pH change influencing clarity of the lens. The proteins of the lens become progressively more insoluble versus soluble as in normal eyes. ref (read introduction) As the body ages, the number of pumps is reduced and the output of each pump is diminished as well. Thus one of the reasons for cataract formation slowly developing over time.
Is there a way to retain the number of pumps and their activity levels?
Perhaps as evidenced by the two studies mentioned above. The Italian study is interesting in that it uses a different set of nutrients compared to the antioxidant nutrients used in the AREDS study. The AREDS study used these nutrients; Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, and Zinc. The theory is that these antioxidant nutrients would prevent naturally generated free radicals from damaging eye cells. Of interest here is that many of these radicals are generated in the energy producing plants inside cells called the mitochondria. ref ref
SIDEBAR: Vitamin C is found in certain eye tissues at 20X higher levels than in blood plasma. Here is what a report says: "Vitamin C, a strong antioxidant, protects proteins, lipids, and DNA from the oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid uptake by the retina is an energy dependent process and concentration of vitamin C in the retina is 20 times higher than in the plasma, suggesting that vitamin C plays an antioxidant role to protect the retina. Vitamin C has also been detected in human tears and aqueous humor in high concentration compared to plasma." ref
The Italian study attacked eye problems from another angle. While CoQ10 has some antioxidant properties similar to the AREDS study nutrients, CoQ10 also is involved in maintaining cellular energy production to drive the mineral pumps. ref Acetyl L-Carnitine also assists energy production by moving fatty acids into the mitochondria to be burned producing energy, plus it protects against glycation reactions which may cloud the lens as well. The cell pumps use a lot of energy. In fact, over 50% of cellular energy is used by these pumps, with some cells using up to 90%. That is how important this pump action is to the life of the cell.
Of Interest: For those who looked up the AREDS study and may be confused that while selenium in small amounts was included in the formula to help protect eyes, the study used an overdose of that same nutrient, selenium, in a form called selenite to cause the cataracts in the test animals. This illustrates the point that antioxidants need to be balanced. Both too little or too much can be detrimental. The forms of selenium are also one of the main points here. Selenium supplements are available in both organic and inorganic forms. The organic forms help protect the eyes against oxidation while the inorganic form, sodium selenite, is already oxidized and does not protect the eyes, and in the case of large amounts injected into rats, generates cataracts in just over 72 hours. This inorganic form ages the rat eyes rapidly. article
Omega 3 Fish oils are added to help maintain healthy cell membranes and reduce the inflammatory state also found to be involved in numerous degenerative disease conditions, including eye health. Perhaps a combination of nutrients from the two studies will prove to be the best approach. The AREDS II study added fish oil plus reduced zinc levels which were too high in the first AREDS study and caused some adverse results. This second study should hopefully attain better results.
Finally, don't forget Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Here is an easy read report on a study showing value and percentage improvements. article
EYE STUDY
|