The eye is the five senses is very important / essential. Conceivably, if we had eye damage or blindness, we can not enjoy and feel how beautiful this universe. In fact we often forget to make eye care, but as well as other parts of the body, the eyes may be affected by the disorder or health problems. Disorder-disorder can be caused by air that is not clean or polluted, solar radiation, radiation from too long in front of computers, and other disorders.
Studies conducted by the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group (2004) estimates that in 2020 the number of people with eye disease and blindness in the world will reach 55 million people. The study also mentions that the eye disease and blindness will increase, especially for those who are aged over 65 years. A person aged 80 years or older which is 8% of the total population, blindness by 69%.
Health disorders of the eye is a common vision impairment, symptoms of red eyes without any decrease in vision function, and red eyes with visual function down. Until now, the eye disease that affects many are cataract, glaucoma, and infection.
Along with the increased attention and knowledge of the influence of nutrition on health, especially the health of the eye causes the rapid growth of the market for eye health products. Most of the products for eye health supplements marketed now shaped. In addition to antioxidant compounds (vitamins A, C, and E) that has previously been shown to improve eye health, other compounds such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, recently known as a compound that may improve eye health.
Lutein is a yellow carotenoid family of compounds are found in many green vegetables. Lutein is found in the macula and is believed to protect the eyes from oxidative damage by the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UV).
Macula is in the middle of the retina and directly adjacent to the lens of the eye. Macula is a small area that contains millions of cells that help produce sharp eyesight to read or see objects clearly.
Another carotenoid compounds present in the macula is is zeaxanthin, which are known to provide benefits for eye health.
Research conducted by Chitchumroonchokchai and colleagues in 2004 from Ohio State University, showed that lutein and zeaxanthin may protect human lens cells from UV exposure, which is a major cause of cataracts. In addition, they compared the antioxidant activity of lutein and zeaxanthin as vitamin E. The results showed that lutein and zeaxanthin showed 10 times higher activity than vitamin E in protecting the lens cells from damage caused by ultraviolet light.
The same year also conducted research by Neuringer and colleagues, showed the ability of lutein and zeaxanthin in eye health. While testing in animals, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products Switzerland, showed that supplementation or addition of lutein and zeaxanthin increase antioxidant activity in the blood.
Group of other carotenoid compounds that actually has the ability to protect the macula from UV exposure is astaxanthin. Guerin et al. (2003) stated that the ability of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds astaxanthin can provide eye protection from UV rays.
Until now, the antioxidant activity of the compounds lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin answer mechanism of the increase in eye health. Free radicals from UV rays or contamination of air, into the eye resulted in the oxidation of molecules susceptible to the lens of the eye.
The molecule is protein and fats that make up the eye lens. The effect of this oxidation causes damage to protein or fat in the eye lens. As we get older and the accumulation of free radical stress, proteins and fats are broken is the greater amount. That makes blurred vision and eventually became blind.
Lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin arresting free radicals (radical scavenger activity) by binding her before these radicals damage the eye lens protein or fat. Or in other words lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin may be cited as the lens protector against free radical attack.
Carotenoids are found in yellow-orange vegetables such as carrots, green vegetables such as broccoli, and red fruits and yellow-orange, such as tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon, and mangoes. So by consuming vegetables and fruits on a regular basis to meet the needs of lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin every day. In addition to other effects to consume vegetables and fruits is to increase intake of dietary fiber which is very good for health.
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