|
by Judi Quilici-Timmcke, M.S.
INT 100 for Eye and Vascular Health
INT 100™ is a dietary supplement, which has demonstrated in various research studies to benefit the vascular system, including blood vessels that feed the eyes. |
Research shows that it helps strengthen tiny blood vessels and regenerate rhodopsin, a pigment in the eyes. Weakness of blood vessels is commonly seen during the aging process where blood vessels become fragile. INT 100 has been shown to reduce blood vessel permeability, improve capillary resistance and provide antioxidant properties, which scavenge free radicals. One way to manage the aging process of the body is to promote the health of the vascular system. Eating nourishing foods, exercise and learning how to handle stress are valid ways to establish good vascular health. There is evidence that shows eating five servings or more a day of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of heart disease, cataracts and some other disorders related to blood vessel health. Fruits and vegetables have dark pigment that has many health advantages.
Many people think the only way to improve blood vessel health is to reduce blood cholesterol, which minimizes the risk of a heart attack. This is an essential goal, but blood vessels also need strength and integrity to maintain their health to carry nutrients and oxygen through the body to feed the tissues. In one form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an abnormal development of blood vessels located at the back of the eye causes them to leak fluid and blood. The wet form usually causes vision problems and can cause loss of vision.
As we age, eye function begins to diminish and causes many people to fear they are losing their eyesight. The blood vessels decline in function, but there are other factors. In 2005, an article in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science stated that during the development of AMD both arrestin and rhodopsin are reduced. Arrestin is a protein and rhodopsin is the light sensitive pigment both found in the retina. Dark pigment of fruits and vegetables are important to blood vessels and the health of the structures and proteins of the eyes.
Research has shown that the brilliant colored fruits and vegetables may prevent strokes, heart disease and help long-term vision because they improve the integrity of blood vessels. INT 100’s concentrated source of nutrients has more research on it than the edible berries.
What is INT 100?
INT 100 is extracted with a clean, proprietary method from dark bilberry fruit, providing a rich source of various anthocyanosides and an aglycon polymer. Many research studies have been performed with INT 100 in laboratories, in animals and in humans to show it helps support vision, has antioxidant properties and is a protector of blood vessels throughout the body. Researchers state that it appears to improve circulation and sensitize the eye’s photo receptors.
INT 100 and World War II
INT 100 was the product used in the original research studies with Royal Air Force pilots. Over 60 years ago, during World War II, Royal Air Force pilots improved in their evening missions and had greater success than their enemy at destroying their targets after eating bilberry fruit. They improved in visual acuity and the ability to adapt to the dark. This finding stimulated researchers to investigate the active compounds in bilberry fruit and that is how INT 100 was discovered. It was extracted and manufactured in a high quality, proprietary manner to be used in further research with great success. It is readily absorbed, effective and safe and has been used in Europe for decades.
INT 100 and Blood Vessel Health
INT 100 has been studied for over 40 years showing that it supports blood vessel health, blood circulation and lymph flow. Blood vessels such as in the brain, heart, eyes, stomach, veins in the legs and actually anywhere in the body have the potential to leak. In many regions of Europe only a few bilberry extracts, including INT 100 have been used to support individuals with microcirculatory disorders. These disorders include varicose veins, atherosclerosis, and degenerative retinal conditions, such as macular degeneration, and cataracts. Animal studies also show it helps to prevent platelet aggregation, which reduces plaque in arterial walls.
Diabetes, atherosclerosis, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excess alcohol and an inability to handle stress can all contribute to blood vessel disorders and cause the capillary’s membrane to thicken, which increases capillary permeability (porous vessels) causing edema (swelling) and leaking of fluid. In diabetic retinopathy there is leaking of retinal blood vessels, which affects the retina or macula. There is increased blood vessel permeability, which causes bleeding. Increased strength of the arteries is crucial since they supply blood and nutrients to your heart. With the same importance, veins require strength to carry blood from the body back to the heart.
Capillary walls have a membrane and endothelial cells. The membrane is connective tissue made of collagen and other compounds. INT 100 supports the connective tissue and endothelial cells. In the early 1970s, INT 100 and beta carotene (BC), a source of vitamin A, were shown to help increase collagen in blood vessels by increasing its cross-linking. They also support the junction of endothelial cells to prevent leaking of capillaries. Various studies show they work together to strengthen collagen and protect against the enzyme collagenase, which breaks down collagen.
During the aging process, there is a thickening of the capillary foundation with an accumulation of insoluble collagen and glycoproteins. This thickening occurs in the early stages of atherosclerosis and during diabetes where large insoluble collagen structures build-up. The INT 100 anthocyanosides show that they help to slow down the production of these insoluble collagen structures and glycoproteins that cause capillaries to become thick.
INT 100 and BC has been studied in patients with retinopathy. In one study, a significant 65 percent had a marked improvement in blood vessel permeability with fewer exudates (compounds that seep from blood vessels). The studies state that the anthocyanosides have a specific action on the retinal blood vessels to reduce blood vessel permeability and offer nutritional support.
INT 100 and the regenerationof rhodopsin in the eyes
During the aging process, oxidative damage occurs by free radicals in the eyes, which causes a loss in the transparency of the lens. Symptoms that occur are blurred vision, increased sensitivity to glare, reduced visual acuity, color perception and light sensitivity. The eye structure begins to break down causing vision impairment and cataract formation.
INT 100 and BC have been shown to improve vision and twilight vision,helping the retina to adapt to darkness and glare. Investigations have shown that it helps the body to speed up the regeneration of rhodopsin. In one study, INT 100 and BC were administered toyoung adults. A Jayle Blet adapto perimeter was used to evaluate night vision. INT 100 and BC demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over the placebo in improving night vision. Another study administered INT 100 and BC to individuals an hour before they went outside in the dark. INT 100 and BC improved night vision in 70 percent of the people with eye disorders and 60 percent in those who were shortsighted and had night vision problems. They improved in vision sharpness and vision field width.
Another night vision study was performed with INT 100 and BC on 14 air traffic controllers. They were all exposed to bright white light, were unable to see for one minute, and then waited in darkness for 30 minutes to allow the rhodopsin to regenerate so the eyes could adjust to darkness. INT 100 and BC were administered for eight days to evaluate effects. After the last dose, testing was performed after one day, 15 days and 30 days. Air traffic controllers who had good night vision demonstrated little improvement, but those with average night vision had a significant improvement in the night vision, ability to see and reduced visual fatigue. Research has also demonstrated benefits of INT 100 and BC in individuals who have difficulties with daylight blindness.
INT 100 anthocyanosides demonstrate they reduce capillary permeability and blood vessel leaking, helping to strengthen the blood vessel walls in the eyes. One human study showed they improved nearsightedness.
INT 100 and Support AgainstFree Radicals
With aging, a gradual degenerative process occurs that causes free radical damage to our body’s genetic material (DNA), cell membranes and tissues. The blood vessel endothelial cells attacked by free radicals begin to rupture. The retina is extremely vulnerable to attack from free radicals, which makes sense since the eyes are more exposed to the atmosphere’s oxygen than other parts of the body. Antioxidants help prevent AMD and reduce damage of the retina’s photo receptors.
Research has shown INT 100 provides antioxidant support against free radicals. Research has also shown oxidative changes on low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are one of the major problems involved in atherosclerosis. A study performed in 1997, showed INT 100 and BC demonstrated strong antioxidant property protection on human LDL,which helps protect the heart and arteries.
In summary, blood vessel health is important in age management. Improving the diet, stress management and exercise should be considered. Supplements such as INT 100 can help promote the health of blood vessels throughout the body, which also supports the eyes.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure and prevent any disease.
Judi Quillici-timmcke is president of Q-Tech Services, Inc., a scientist and consultant in the dietary supplement industry. Judi holds a masters degree in dietetics/exercise physiology. Previously, she was vice-president of product development and research for Weider Nutrition-Specialty Market. www.judiq.com. For more information contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
