Kemin FloraGLO sets eyes on new markets as study shows increased benefits of lutein

21 Jul 2022 --- Kemin Industries’ proprietary lutein may replace beta-carotene in fighting age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a company-backed study. The findings may pave the way in utilizing the supplement FloraGLO lutein in the e-sports and gaming realm as well as brain and skin health segments.

“AREDS2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2) was the largest lutein supplementation study ever conducted,” Fred Khachik, research fellow, Kemin Industries, tells NutritionInsight. “The study and its results showcased many of the key reasons consumers need lutein in their diet.”

The US-based company highlights that, since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has concluded analyzing its effects over a ten-year period, the study shows that its marigold flower extract, FloraGLO, is effective and safe to use for prolonged periods. This statement follows AREDS2 testing of the long-term efficacy of supplements to help combat the progression of AMD.

The NIH study found that lutein is the preferred supplement to replace beta-carotene for eye health.An alternative to beta-carotene?
The goal of the NIH-backed study was to determine whether or not lutein could be a suitable replacement for beta-carotene in the fight against AMD. The NIH has been searching for an alternative since it was revealed that beta-carotene could increase the risk of lung cancer in those who smoke or who may have been exposed to asbestos.

The study was also testing to see if there were any benefits to adding lutein and zeaxanthin supplements to a normal, healthy diet.

“The key findings further confirm Kemin lutein as a safe and effective ingredient in slowing down the progression of AMD after ten years of use,” stresses Khachik. 

More than meets the eye
The study further reveals that the effects of lutein go beyond just health. It may have benefits for cognitive functions and on the skin, helping it to enter into the “beauty from within” market. Innova Market Insights recently listed ingestible beauty as one of the Top Trends of 2022.

Kemin partnered with DSM to increase the bioavailability of their lutein, stating that DSM’s Actilease microencapsulation technology helped them to increase lutein in the bloodstream by 126%.Fred Khachik says the study’s findings could help move them into the e-sports realm.

Moreover, Khachik holds that it could also become a welcome addition to e-sports nutrition. “Even though FloraGLO lutein is a leading ingredient in the eye health platform, in the past year we have seen an increased new focus into cognitive function due to research connecting the eye to the brain,” affirms Khachik.

“Lutein has been shown to improve visual performance, specifically chromatic contrast, an important aspect in e-sports in which a small edge can be critical for correct target identification resulting in large gains.”

“We believe that FloraGLO Lutein is more than just an eye health ingredient,” he concludes. 

“Another example of Lutein in the brain is through macular pigment optical density – a measure of lutein and zeaxanthin status in the eye – being correlated to lutein and zeaxanthin levels in the brain.” 

By William Bradford Nichols