Nutritional Wellness Blog from BeautifulandWell.com

by Edward L. Paul, Jr., O.D., Ph.D.

Since 2001 the accepted standard of care in treating dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) has consisted of recommending an AREDS based nutritional supplement. Clinicians may change that recommendation with the publication of the landmark TOZAL Study which was published in the February issue of the British journal BMC Ophthalmology. The TOZAL Study incorporated taurine, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, antioxidants and lutein. With the exception of taurine, this formulation is very similar to the AREDS II formulation that is in the first year of a six-year trial. The TOZAL Study design had as a primary objective the measurement of change of Visual Acuity (VA) as measured with the ETDRS charts in subjects with intermediate dry AMD who were treated with this novel nutritional supplement. The range of best-corrected VA at baseline was 20/32-20/125, the same range of VA used in the MIRA-1 study (the MIRA-1 study was used as a “distant” control group). The study contrasted VA at baseline to VA measured under the same conditions at 6 months. Based upon other studies, it is well acknowledged that VA in a group of subjects with intermediate AMD decreases over a 6-month period and the decrease has been demonstrated to be about 1.5 lines.

Remarkably, the results of the TOZAL study revealed that more than half (57%) of the subjects in the treated group improved an average of one-half a line of visual acuity at 6 months (0.0541 logMAR). In contrast to the well known natural course of AMD that demonstrates deterioration, nearly 77% treated with the nutritional supplement improved or stayed the same and only about 23% worsened (but no worse than placebo). Hence, the TOZAL supplement formula alone in this study has altered the natural course of the progression of intermediate AMD. It is well known that the original AREDS study demonstrated that nutritional supplements reduced the progression in the treated group when compared to the placebo group by about 25% but the subjects still demonstrated progression of the disease process and lost visual acuity. The AREDS II is now underway but the results will not be available for approximately 5 years. Since the TOZAL formulation is very similar (but not identical) to the AREDS II formulation, the TOZAL results predict the eventual positive AREDS II results. Conservative clinicians may choose to wait another 5 or so years for the AREDS II results to be announced before recommending TOZAL or similar nutritional supplements. Alternatively, many less conservative clinicians may choose to treat their patients with intermediate AMD with the TOZAL formula at the present time in order to provide the additional 5 or so years of protection and perhaps even result in VA improvement in as little as 6 months.

Recent literature has also indicated that higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with decreased likelihood of having wet AMD. Omega-3 fatty acids appear to influence processes involved in the development of neovascularization – specifically DHA may protect the retina by influencing which genes turn on and off, while fatty acids overall may eventually form compounds that promote cell survival and proper blood vessel function, reduce inflammation and maintain energy balance. Considering the cost of the recommended two-year course of monthly injections of Lucentis reaches nearly $50,000, TOZAL vitamin therapy for AMD not only makes sense, but improves quality of life at a reasonable cost. While the TOZAL Study specifically looked at the supplement’s influence on AMD, a growing body of evidence suggests that supplements containing antioxidants, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk and positively impact other eye diseases such as dry eye syndrome, cataracts, and glaucoma.

In summary, the TOZAL Study has demonstrated statistical and clinical significance of VA improvement and/or stability for subjects with intermediate AMD who were treated with the TOZAL formulation. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids appear to reduce the likelihood of a patient advancing to wet AMD. These findings predict that the results of the much larger AREDS II study, to be available in approximately 5 years, will yield similar positive effects.

Source: AmeriSciences.com

National Press Release

While B vitamins may not be beneficial once disease starts, some nutritional supplements may have preventitve effect

HOUSTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ — While a study in the October 15, 2008 JAMA demonstrates that B vitamins do not slow cognitive decline once Alzheimer’s disease has struck, there is a large body of scientific evidence showing that some nutrients may help keep the brain healthy as one ages. A leading expert thinks the time is now for Baby Boomers to look seriously at maintaining cognitive wellness. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 10 million Boomers can expect to get Alzheimer’s disease as they age.

“There are many things like heredity that are outside our control, but there are also concrete steps we can take to maintain optimal brain health,” says Marwan Sabbagh, MD, FAAN, a leading Alzheimer’s researcher and physician who has written extensively on the disease. “The time to think about this is long before memory problems start.”

Dr. Sabbagh has looked exhaustively at published research on Alzheimer’s disease and brain health, and he has identified a number of important factors in maintaining cognitive wellness. Among the modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s are hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, high homocysteine levels, diabetes-elevated insulin levels, and obesity, especially during midlife.

There is also evidence that dietary modifications can help maintain cognitive wellness. Combing through published research on the topic, Dr. Sabbagh has identified a group of nutrients that have strong evidence of protective effects.

“The use of these nutrients to support cognitive wellness is well documented in the scientific literature,” says Dr. Sabbagh. “The JAMA article underscores the need to consider supplementation long before disease starts.”

To help American consumers make good supplement choices, Dr. Sabbagh worked with AmeriSciences, a leading science-based nutraceutical company, to develop a formulation that includes ingredients with strong scientific merit. AmeriSciences’ Cognivite Complete was specially formulated under Dr. Sabbagh’s guidance to provide nutritional support to help combat declining mental function and memory loss associated with aging. Dr. Sabbagh’s expertise in this area led AmeriSciences to recently appoint him to chair the company’s Scientific Advisory Board.*

Cognivite Complete’s ingredients include: Gingko biloba; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); turmeric root (curcumin); and phosphatidylserine. Gingko biloba helps maintain normal blood flow to the brain and is rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which may offer protection against neuron damage.** Turmeric root, a common spice in Asia and a constituent of many curries, has been shown to exhibit a variety of protective effects in the brain, from stimulation of normal anti-inflammatory functions to the reduction of natural oxidative damage.** DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is a vital component of the cell membranes of the brain. Studies suggest that it may help overall cognitive maintenance.** Phosphatidylserine is a fat derivative (phospholipid) found in soybeans and other foods, which is involved in brain signal activity and is an important part of neuronal membranes.**

According to Dr. Sabbagh’s research, a modest decline in cognitive health is an expected part of the aging process; however, this decline can be exacerbated by factors such as poor nutritional habits and stress. Through lifestyle modifications and a consistent nutritional regimen that includes supplementation, Dr. Sabbagh believes people can help preserve normal brain function and ensure cognitive wellness.

Dr. Sabbagh serves as Chief Medical-Scientific Officer and Director of Clinical Research at the Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona.*

For more information on Cognivite Complete, please visit www.AmeriSciences.com or www.Cognivite.com.

* Disclosure: Dr. Sabbagh receives royalties from sales of Cognivite Complete, and is in a partnership that distributes AmeriSciences products. Dr. Sabbagh’s relationship with AmeriSciences is separate from his work with Sun Health.

** These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult with your physician before taking any nutritional supplement.

Source: AmeriSciences

See also: http://houston.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/Texas/2008/10/15/NE39188

Press Release

HOUSTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ — AmeriSciences, a leading developer of science-based nutritional supplements, is poised to revolutionize the way eye-care practitioners treat age-related visual deterioration with the launch of its clinically-proven TOZAL Eye Health Formula. Research indicates that by 2030, as many as 68 million Americans will be over the age of 65, and a significant number of these older Americans will suffer from low vision or blindness.

Since 2001, the eye-care industry’s standard of care for patients suffering from age-related vision loss has been nutritional supplements based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). While AREDS provided clinical proof that nutritional supplements can positively affect a degenerative health issue, scientific discoveries over the last seven years have revealed other micronutrients that are more effective in maintaining and supporting good health and vision. Among these beneficial compounds are taurine, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, antioxidants and lutein, which are the main ingredients in the TOZAL Eye Health Formula.

“TOZAL exemplifies AmeriSciences’ commitment to providing the safest, most effective science-based nutritional products on the market today,” said Carlos Montesinos, Product Development & Quality Assurance Director, AmeriSciences. “We believe that TOZAL will set a new standard of care for nutrition-based eye care. Like all of our products, TOZAL also meets or exceeds pharmaceutical industry quality benchmarks for over-the-counter products.”

Two years ago, TOZAL became the focus of a multicenter study that ultimately demonstrated through clinical testing how the proper combination of these compounds was effective at reducing the onset of age-related visual impairment after six months of consistent supplementation. The results of this study, which were published in the February 2007 issue of BMC Ophthalmology, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, affirmed that regular use of the TOZAL formula impeded the natural course of visual degeneration in 77 percent of the treated test subjects. Evidence from the TOZAL study also indicated that visual acuity actually improved by as much as one-half line (eye chart) among 57 percent of those tested. All patients receiving the AREDS-type nutritional supplement lost some vision.

A large new study, published in August in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also supports the use of TOZAL in preventing vision loss. The study, which took place across seven European nations, found that seniors given omega-3 fatty acids reduced their risk of developing macular degeneration by up to 70 percent. TOZAL is the only eye-health supplement that includes omega-3 acids.

“The TOZAL study demonstrates that treatment with this supplement can help patients with age-related vision loss,” said Francis E. Cangemi, M.D., a macular degeneration specialist affiliated with Vitreo-Retinal Associates of New Jersey who led the TOZAL study.

As a result of the landmark TOZAL study, AmeriSciences collaborated with TOZAL developer and prominent optometrist Dr. Edward Paul to create the only nutritional supplement on the market based on his patented formula. TOZAL Eye Health Formula was released in February exclusively through independent distributors of AmeriSciences nutritional products with incredible response from consumers and vision-care specialists alike.

“I grew tired of telling my patients with age-related vision loss that there was nothing I could do for them,” said Dr. Paul about developing his breakthrough TOZAL formula. As a highly-respected optometrist and nutritionist, Dr. Paul has been in private practice in Wilmington, North Carolina, for more than 20 years helping people to see better and live healthier lives through a combination of traditional and complementary medicine.

“I think that because of AREDS, the eye-care industry was the first in the health field to really embrace nutritional supplementation as a way of helping patients with age-related health issues,” Dr. Paul said. “But now we have something better and more effective with TOZAL. We would be remiss if we did not give our patients the option of using these supplements given the statistical and clinical proof that TOZAL can help them.”

In addition to his research and eye-care practice, Dr. Paul is the author of several books, including “Conquering Macular Degeneration” and “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health.” An authority on the subject of age-related vision impairments, Dr. Paul also serves as a contributing writer for several national medical magazines and is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs. Dr. Paul is a member of the AmeriSciences Scientific Advisory Board.

A specially-packaged combination of two premium nutritional products- AmeriSciences Antioxidant Plus and AmeriSciences Omega Max-TOZAL Eye Health Formula has been hailed by health-care professionals from across the United States as a product that is destined to revolutionize the eye-care industry.

AmeriSciences is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

For more information on AmeriSciences’ new TOZAL Eye Health Formula, visit www.tozalformula.com or www.amerisciences.com.

Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080918/neth047.html?.v=70

HOUSTON, Texas (October 24, 2005)- Two Texas companies are teaming up with NASA’s Johnson Space Center on technology development.

The Woodlands-based Houston Advanced Research Center and Houston’s AmeriSciences recently signed separate NASA Space Act Agreements with JSC. HARC is pursuing technologies related to commercial fuel cell systems, while AmeriSciences is focused on developing and testing multivitamin nutritional supplements intended for astronaut use before and during flights.

The two-year NASA-HARC agreement calls for NASA to offer expertise to HARC in the area of fuel cell test stands and system designs. HARC’s analysis and testing efforts could eliminate the need for NASA to develop on-site testing, officials say.

NASA says that working with HARC’s Center for Fuel Cell Research and Applications also may benefit NASA’s future space missions through improved fuel cell performance.

Meanwhile, NASA has partnered with AmeriSciences to develop a multivitamin formulation for potential use by astronauts. Based on NASA’s need to provide increased nutritional support for long-duration spaceflight, scientists at JSC have compiled information on multivitamin formulations. AmeriSciences manufactures a multivitamin that meets many of NASA’s needs, according to the agency.

The agreement with AmeriSciences includes the co-development of the multivitamin, shared responsibilities for product testing, participation in project reports, identification and assessment of related technologies, and demonstrations and other activities.

Created in 1982, HARC is a nonprofit organization that created the Center for Fuel Cell Research and Applications in July 1998.

Founded in 1999, AmeriSciences is a producer and distributor of nutritional, dental and skincare wellness products.

Source: Houston Business Journal

HOUSTON, Texas (July 2005) – NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) has agreed with AmeriSciences® to participate in a joint venture with NASA/JSC scientists to develop and test nutritional supplements intended for astronauts to use during earth-bound conditioning and in-flight physical maintenance. The Space Act Agreement between NASA/JSC and AmeriSciences sets the stage for the development of two products: a complete multivitamin regimen for general astronaut health and a specialized supplemental vitamin for in-flight nutritional needs.

AmeriSciences and NASA: Working Together to Develop Astronaut-specific Multivitamins

Out of a need for providing increased nutritional support for long duration space flight, NASA/JSC has spent the last couple of years compiling scientific data on the basis of an astronaut-specific multivitamin formulation, with similarities to the AmeriSciences Men’s Master-Multi formulation.

The Space Act Agreement sets forth both short-term and long-term objectives for both parties. These include not only the co-development of the supplement formulations, but shared responsibilities for extensive product testing, participation in project reports, identification and assessment of related technologies, and participation in demonstrations and other activities of mutual interest.

“Combining the expertise of AmeriSciences and NASA to develop products that meet the extreme needs of the astronauts will truly set a new standard in supplementation. We are proud to be a part of this important project.”

-Lou Gallardo, Chairman of AmeriSciences