How tomato and rosemary improve eye health

LYCORED announced the publication of its pre-clinical results in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Molecular Vision. Among its findings is the function of tomato and rosemary in vision protection.

Within the paper, scientists unearth the powerful biological synergy that exists between the ingredients found in LycoInvision, Lycored’s Nutrient Complex for Vision Health.

With successful results from the pre-clinical ex-vivo study, designed to assess the effect of Lycoinvision on immune cells from patients with AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration), the company will continue the research program proceeding with a clinical study.

Tomato and rosemary tandem

The research, funded by Lycored and carried out by scientists at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel, highlights how adding the phytonutrient combination of Tomato and Rosemary to the already well-researched AREDS composition, can better balance the cellular response to different challenges and modulate specific biomarkers and key processes affecting eye health.

To arrive at their findings, they separated Monocyte immune cells from the blood of patients with AMD (both men and women) and matured to macrophages (polarization to classic (M1) and alternative (M2) phenotypes). From there, each patient’s cells were treated with different combinations of nutrients, revealing the most potent combination to be the one containing lycopene and Carnosic acid in addition to the well-researched lutein/zeaxanthin and AREDS minerals zinc and copper. This combination was shown to boost overall natural protection mechanisms against different stresses and provide antioxidant protection.

Lycopene function

“The exact role that lycopene plays in eye health has been a long-standing mystery, as lycopene does not accumulate in the eye. This study allowed us to finally reveal the pivotal and synergistic role that it plays in vision protection,” said Dr. Karin Hermoni, Head of science and Nutrition team at Lycored. “Research also suggests that Lycopene sacrifices itself for lutein by protecting it from oxidation allowing lutein to be effectively transported to the eye. The current study emphasizes that although lycopene does not contribute directly to macular pigmentation (like lutein does), it works in tandem with the other nutrients to help create the most potent combination of eye-protecting nutrients.”

Lycored aims to use this ex-vivo eye health study as a way to support the innovation, importance and methodologies of such work; highlighting how a real time pre-clinical study can be seen as the glue between a notion and a trusted, finished product. In its commitment to supporting eye health and continuing research in the field, the results from the ex-vivo study are just the beginning for Lycored, as the company will continue the clinical portion (phase II) of the research program, and will focus on macular blood flow, in early 2018.

Access the article in-full, titled, Characterizing the Effect of Supplements on the Phenotype of Cultured Macrophages from Patients with Age Related Macular Degeneration, online at Molecular Vision.