Affron®eye manufactured by Spain's Pharmactive Biotech Products' is a premium 100% natural carotenoid for eye health, sourced from high-quality Spanish saffron (Crocus sativus L.). The innovative eye health product has a high content of crocins, the major carotenoids found in saffron, which protects the eyes from strong light, improves blood circulation and may prevent macular degeneration.
Affron®eye differentiates itself from other carotenoids as having the fastest absorption time and is highly water-soluble. The crocins present in Affron®Eye reaches their maximum concentration in the blood after only 1.5 hours, faster than traditional carotenoids used for eye health, such as lutein and zeaxanthin.
The bioactive compounds present are standardised to 3% Crocins and are measured by HPLC. affron®eye is also classified as a Non-GMO product. The high antioxidant properties derived from the crocins present in Affron®Eye play a significant role in its biological function and may induce a reduction in intraocular pressure and protect the eye from retinal oxidative stress. It can also increase the amount of oxygen flow to photoreceptors in the eye which may protect it from bright light, environmental stress and production of free radicals which can cause retinal damage after long term exposure.
Age-related macular degeneration can occur as a result of prolonged eye exposure to ultraviolet light and oxidative stress and affects up to 1.25 million people in Australia and another 8 million who are at risk. Numerous studies suggest that saffron supplementation may improve visual function in test subjects with age-related macular degeneration. In one placebo-controlled study, test subjects with early signs of macular degeneration were assigned either 20 mg of saffron a day or a placebo. Researchers found that patients receiving saffron supplementation showed better responses to light, including dim light. The second observation of the study showed that the patients also significantly improved in visual acuity, their clarity of vision from a distance.
The same researchers then conducted a follow-up study to test if saffron had long-term effects by assigning test subjects with early macular generation 20mg a day of saffron over a period of 14 months. Patients showed an improvement of visual acuity by two lines on the Snellen Chart. The study also determined that the effects of saffron on macular degeneration can be related to all adults and not just those with specific hereditary factors.
In another study published in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, results showed that saffron supplementation, such as affron®eye, can improve visual function in patients with advanced macular degeneration. The randomised clinical trial showed that saffron supplementation was able to improve the retinal flicker sensitivity in patients in the early stages of advanced macular degeneration.
affronEYE is a premium Spanish saffron extract.
Supplementing saffron extracts may protect our eyes from visual loss in the future. Pharmactive Biotech Products's affron®eye is a new generation ingredient for eye health that may prevent or mitigate the risk of eye health concerns. Lipa is proud to offer AffronEye as a part of our key materials range.
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