Nutritional Wellness Blog from BeautifulandWell.com

According to the NutraIngredients cognitive health series, which examines the market, supply, science and regulation behind the cognitive health category, the cognitive health functional category is defined as foods, beverages or dietary supplements that help promote mental health, improve mental performance and uplift mood.

More specific benefits of cognitive health functional foods and nutritional supplements include: enhancing cognitive ability, protecting the brain from damage, fighting the effects of aging (such as memory loss or dementia), addressing depression, and concentration problems, aiding in relaxation, and even helping to reduce aggressive behavior.

Data pooled from market analysts including Euromonitor, Datamonitor and Frost & Sullivan identify a number of key ingredients in the category that can support brain function. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Omega-3, ginko biloba, ginseng (improved memory)
• CoQ10 (slows Parkinson’s disease)
• Phospolipids: Phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl serine – e.g. soy lecithin (fight dementia, cognitive decline)
• St John’s wort, soy lecithin (combat depression)
• Omega-3, PS (phosphatidylserine), Gaba, creatine (brain function)
• Green tea, tryptophan, Gaba, ginko biloba (mood)
• Guarana, caffeine, ginseng (energy boosting)

Supplements lead the Cognitive Health Category

In the food and beverage category, GNPD tracked 276 new cognitive health products launched globally in 2008, and 388 new products in 2009 to date. Europe and the US accounted for 45 and 56 new products respectively in 2008, and 44 each in 2009.  Teas and infusions, water-based drinks and energy drinks are leading the way in beverages. Omega-3 fortified yoghurts, milk and drinking yoghurts are leading the way in dairy.

However, according to Frost & Sullivan, dietary supplements are leading the way in the cognitive health market – and Euromonitor confirms that supplements are “increasingly garnering favor with consumers”.

Euromonitor splits the market up into three main areas: Brain function, energy boosting and mood.

Japan ahead

According to Euromonitor, Japan is the biggest market for cognitive health food and supplements.

US Market for Cognitive Health Supplements Growing

Due to the ageing population of Baby Boomers in the U.S., and the related increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the need for cognitive health nutritional supplements to support brain function.

There are many cognitive health nutritional supplement formulations on the market.  One of the most recognized is Cognivite from AmeriSciences, a privately-held specialty nutritional supplement company based in Houston, TX which has a joint development agreement with NASA/Johnson Space Center.  The Cognivite formula was developed by renowned geriatric neurologist Dr. Marwan Sabbagh and was launched in 2008.  To learn more about Cognivite, click here.

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