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OculaRx®: Formula Update & New Name: OcularProtect®

Science doesn't stand still, and at ScienceBased Health, neither do we. That's why you'll notice some improvements to the OculaRx formula, as well as a new name, OcularProtect, beginning with July shipments. The formulation changes in this product reflect current scientific findings for a number of nutrients. We will offer this new formulation to you at the same price, with no interruption of service.

Vitamin D: Generated in the body from sunlight, this vitamin is best known for helping calcium absorption, but may also have immune and cardiovascular benefits as well. New evidence also points to vitamin D as perhaps even more critical than calcium for maintaining bone in older people [newsletter, March, 2003]. Several recent studies have also identified a surprisingly high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in the US (1).

The current level of 200 IU will be raised to 400 IU in OcularProtect to help ensure adequate intake of vitamin D. The current RDA for people over 70 is 600 IU and many experts recommend 400-800 IU for older women. For those using a calcium and vitamin D supplement in addition to OcularProtect, a combined level of 400-800 IU is well within the safe range of intake. The Upper Level for vitamin D is 2000 IU daily, but most people should stay within the 400-800 IU range.

Vitamin E: Mention vitamin E and most people think only of alpha-tocopherol. But the term "vitamin E" really refers to a family of eight related antioxidant compounds found in many plants. Alpha tocopherol has long been considered the family "leader". However new research underscores the potential health benefits of other vitamin E family members, particularly gamma tocopherol [newsletter, April 2003]. In recognition of these new findings, OcularProtect will incorporate mixed tocopherols as part of its 200 IU of vitamin E content. The other portion in the formula will remain tocopherol succinate - a highly bioavailable alpha vitamin E form.

Vitamin A: While this fat soluble vitamin is important for eye health, the findings from three recent studies suggest that lower supplemental levels of vitamin A might be more appropriate for bone health (2-4). These observational studies have linked higher blood levels or dietary intake of vitamin A with a greater risk of bone fracture. Studies of this type don't provide proof of this relationship to bone health, and not all experts agree that the typical vitamin A intake of Americans is risky. Yet, it appears prudent to lower the amount of vitamin A in OcularProtect until more studies can be conducted to resolve the issue.

The level of vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) will be reduced from 5000 IU (the Daily Value) to 2000 IU. This will help keep overall intake of vitamin A at a conservative level, even for those combining OcularProtect with other vitamin A-containing ScienceBased Health formulas such as HydroEye. Beta-carotene, by contrast, has never been found to effect bone health in any way. The level of Beta-carotene will not change.

lycopene: lycopene is a red-yellow carotenoid found in many fruits and vegetables. Several years ago, a Harvard Medical School study of 48,000 men linked consumption of tomato products twice weekly with a 34% greater likelihood of retaining prostate health (5). A new trial presented recently at an international conference also links higher body levels with a reduced risk of heart attack. The amount of lycopene in OcularProtect has been doubled from its present level.

Chromium: Chromium is a trace mineral that aids in sugar (glucose) metabolism and energy production. Like all minerals, chromium requires a "carrier" for stability. The carrier currently used in OcularProtect is yeast. The revised OcularProtect will include chromium polynicotinate; chromium with nicotinic acid (a form of vitamin B3) as the carrier. nicotinic acid, or niacin, has been reported to increase chromium's effects on sugar metabolism in laboratory studies (6). Chromium polynicotinate is considered to be extremely safe, while there are theoretical safety concerns with another, similar-sounding form, chromium picolinate (7).

References

1. Calvo MS. Review: Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Canada and the US: Importance to health status and efficacy of current food fortification and dietary supplement use. Nutr Rev 61:107-12, 2003.
2. Michaelsson K, et al. Serum retinol levels and the risk of fracture. N Engl J Med 348:287-94, 2003.
3. Freskanich D, et al. Vitamin A intake and hip fracture among postmenopausal women. JAMA 287:47-54,2002.
4. Melhus H, et al. Excessive dietary intake of vitamin A is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk for hip fracture. Ann of Internal Med 129:770-8,1998
5. Giovannucci E, et al. Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 87:1767-76, 1995.
6. Mertz W. Chromium: history and nutritional importance. Biol Trace Ele Res 32:3-8, 1992.
7. Hepburn DD, et al. Nutritional supplement chromium picolinate causes sterility and lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci 100:3766-71, 2003.