The science behind MacuPrime carotenoid supplements
MacuPrime® exists because we want you to make the most of today and keep doing the things you love in the future.
Our food supplement is made from simple ingredients found in nature, called carotenoids.
At South East Technology University, Ireland, an expert team of scientists discovered that three plant pigments found in fruit and vegetables, known as carotenoids, naturally gather in the eye.
The macula is responsible for our central high resolution, colour vision. The yellow layer made up of these carotenoids is called the macular pigment.
Read on to learn about carotenoids and the importance of the macular pigment.
What is a carotenoid?
A carotenoid is a plant pigment found in rainbow fruit, green leafy vegetables and some fish.
These pigments are responsible for the bright red, yellow and orange colours in many fruits and vegetables. They are found in high concentrations in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli.
While there are more than 700 types of carotenoids present in nature, only three – Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin and Zeaxanthin – have been discovered in the macula at the back of the eye.
Our bodies can’t produce carotenoids so the only way to get them is through the foods we eat.
Did you know? You would need to eat 1.7 cups of kale, 11,904 whole trout and 1.8 cups of orange pepper every day, to get the equivalent amount of carotenoids in a MacuPrime® capsule.
What is the Macula?
The macula is a small, light-sensitive spot in the centre of the retina. It is responsible for almost 90% of our vision. The macula gives us all of our sharp detailed and coloured central vision that we rely on for activities such as driving, reading, writing and recognising faces.
Macular Pigment – what is it and why is it so important?
The macular pigment gives the macula it’s yellow colour and is where the three carotenoids (Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin and Zeaxanthin) build up.
Daily damage
Blue light comes through the front of your eye and lands at the back of the macula, creating oxidative stress that can break down your macula.
Powerful natural sunblock
The macula is vulnerable to this oxidative stress and is therefore easily damaged. That is why the macular pigment is so important.
This yellow pigment acts like a powerful natural sunblock, filtering light inside the eyes and protecting your retina from damage.
Risks increase as we age
As we get older the macular pigment can also wear down and become thinner – similar to the way our skin wrinkles as it ages. This reduces the protection our macula and retina have from oxidative stress. This damage can lead to a condition known as Age-related Macular Degeneration.
Increasing your daily intake of carotenoids by eating a diet high in green leafy vegetables, eggs and fish will help to increase the density of your macular pigment.
Macula without Macular Pigment Protection
Macula with Macular Pigment Protection
What is Supplement Certified scientific testing?
Supplement Certified is an independent scientific certification programme ran by South East Technology University (SETU) for assessing supplement label claims. MacuPrime is proud to be the first supplement brand in Europe to have passed the rigorous testing programme and receive certification for both shelf-life stability and the meeting of all label claims.
When customers see the Supplement Certified logo, they can be assured that the MacuPrime formulation is scientifically proven to provide the exact amount of active ingredients promised on its label. It’s our guarantee to you that when you invest in MacuPrime you will get what you expect – the highest quality supplement verified to deliver the active ingredients promised and one that will remain as active, stable and bioavailable as it was on day one.
Supplement Certified provides accurate, science-based analysis of products to ensure that the active ingredients listed on the label claim are present and remain stable throughout their shelf-life. In a test where 46 supplements were studied (products sold in Europe, Mexico, and the U.S.), 61% of them failed to contain the same amount of carotenoids as claimed on the labels.
The scientists and researchers at Supplement Certified hold over 20 years of academic credibility in the area of assessing nutrition for human function, having built up an exceptional skillset at SETU’s Nutrition Research Centre Ireland.
MacuPrime is independently certified by ‘Supplement Certified’ to meet all of our label claims. This means you are guaranteed to get the exact level of active nutrients promised on the label with certified shelf-life stability and no degradation over time
Scientific Research
Prof John Nolan and his team at Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI) have spent over 25 years researching carotenoids, specifically Lutein (10mg), Meso-Zeaxanthin (10mg), and Zeaxanthin (2mg).
Principal Investigator, Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, South East Technology University
