What is Opti-I?

Opti-I consists of potent combination of vitamins, minerals and herbal antioxidants to effectively combat free radicals, promote good eye health and sugar metabolism.

Out of all the five senses, our vision by far seems the most important. We perceive up to 80% of all impressions by means of sight. Our perception, cognition, and most daily activities are mediated through vision, allowing us to learn more about the surrounding. And if other senses stop working, it is the eyes that best protect us from danger. It is hence, vital to protect the eyes.

Free radicals are common in the body, occurring from a variety of lifestyle factors including stress, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol consumptions or as part of normal energy producing processes. Free radical can also be generated by external factors, e,g. UV light, and pollutions which are harsh to our eyes and optic nerve. Many of these free radicals are dealt with by the existing antioxidant defences. Some free radicals, however, escape these defences, or the free radicals outnumber the body’s natural antioxidant defences and hence tend to accumulate. Research suggests that this accumulation of free radicals can result in cellular damage, aging and increase of vitamin excretion from our bodies.

Opti-I is specifically formulated to combat free-radicals by acting as “free radical scavenger”. Replenishment and intake of Opti-I benefits the body in numerous ways, including providing an antioxidant role against internal and external contaminants such as stress, pollution and cigarette smoke.

7 Essential Nutrients

All of these ingredients combine synergistically to give blasting general [1] and eye [2-9] health effects, which includes:

1. Slow down aging of eyes and progression of presbyopia 10 as aging is associated with decreased optical power potential.
2. Relieve dry eyes
3. Protect against UV & blue light
4. Strengthen eye muscle and improve capillary blood flow
5. Reduce eye fatigue, eye irritation and blurred vision linked to visual display terminals use
6. Improve vision & clarity
7. Delay aging of eyes e.g. age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts
8. Relieve eye redness and inflammation
9. Better regulation and metabolism of blood glucose 11-13

• An ‘essential trace element’, as only a very small amount of chromium is necessary for human health. 
  
• Taken by mouth for improving blood sugar control in people with prediabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
  
• Chromium plus zinc also helps in sugar metabolism. These nutrients are utilised by the body to aid in efficient uptake of blood sugar into the body cells where it is burned as fuel.
  

Unique Features of Opti-I

The Functional Medical Food

The formulation of Opti-I was created based on the evidences of AREDS study and suggestions of the Eye Specialists through their daily practices at the eye clinics. Clinically validated ingredient astaxanthin and trace minerals were added to make Opti-I a comprehensive formula that is safe and effective. Opti-I was developed to improve the eye health, help the tired eyes to refocus, and act both as prevention or treatment option for aging eyes and diabetic eye diseases.

Only a few antioxidants can reach our eye and protect it from free radical damage. Our eyes are protected by the blood-retina barrier (BRB), which the purpose is to prevent toxin and other undesirable things from entering the eye through the circulatory system.

Astaxanthin in Opti-I is one of the rare antioxidants which crosses the BRB to inhibit free radical damage within our cells, due to its unique molecular structure. Red blood cells carry astaxanthin into the eye, where it provides both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits, slowing the progression of presbyopia and reducing the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Astaxanthin is classified as Food by the MOH; it is a superfood which has medical claims as studies have reported that astaxanthin can perform various biological activities. The effects of astaxanthin on lipid metabolism and antioxidant defence mechanisms are several times higher than those of alpha-tocopherol and vitamin C 14, 15. Moreover, astaxanthin has positive effects on cholesterol and lipid metabolism, uncontrolled glucose metabolism 13 as well as on the immune response that occurs through antioxidant defence mechanisms in healthy participants with cardiovascular diseases who have enhanced antioxidant properties 16,17.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is caused by an imbalance between insulin supply and demand, which is indicated by glucose and lipid abnormalities 18.

Recommended Dosage:

Adults: One sachet of Opti-I to be taken daily. Mix the powder with 100ml of water, stir well before drinking.
Children (12 years old and below): Half a sachet of Opti-I to be taken daily.

Certified by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)

MeSTI (Makanan Selamat Tanggungjawab Industri)

FAQ

1. What is AREDs? How is it related to eye supplements?

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) is a major clinical trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute, one of the federal government's National Institutes of Health, UK, involving over 4000 participants. The AREDS was designed to learn more about the natural history and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract and to evaluate the effect of high doses of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc on the progression of AMD and cataract. Results from the AREDS showed that high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced AMD by 25% over 5-year period and its associated vision loss. These same nutrients had no significant effect on the development or progression of cataract.

2. What are the ingredients being studied at AREDS?

• Vitamin C
  
• Vitamin E
  
• Beta-carotene
  
• Zinc as zinc oxide
  
• Copper as cupric oxide
  

3. What are lutein, astaxanthin and beta-carotene?

Lutein, astaxanthin, and beta-carotene belong to a family of nutrients known as carotenoids. Carotenoids are made by plants and are especially enriched in green leafy vegetables. They can be stored in animal tissues and are found at relatively low levels in animal food products.
In the body, beta-carotene is used to make Vitamin A, which is required by the retina to detect light and convert it into electrical signals. Beta-carotene itself is not found in the eye, while lutein is found mainly in the retina and lens, and astaxanthin can be found at the eye ciliary muscle and retina. The deposition enables them to act as natural antioxidants and help absorb damaging, high-energy blue and ultraviolet light.

4. Who should consider taking a multiple dietary supplement like Opti-I?

• People at high risk for developing advanced AMD should consider taking the antioxidant-zinc superfood combinations. 
  
• People who has compromised vision e.g. presbyopia and asthenopia, who wish to improve accommodative ability. 
• This superfood formula provides a therapeutic option for eye-related conditions, blood sugar control, and energy metabolism.
  

5. Will taking formula similar to AREDS prevent AMD?

There is no known treatment that can prevent the early stages of AMD. However, the AREDS formulations can have benefit on:

• Intermediate AMD in one or both eyes. Intermediate AMD can be detected by an eye care professional, but usually involves little or no vision loss.
  
• Advanced AMD in one eye, but not the other eye. Advanced AMD involves either a breakdown of cells in the retina (called geographic atrophy or dry AMD), or the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina (called neovascular or wet AMD). Either of these forms of advanced AMD can cause vision loss.
  

The participants in the first AREDS trial have now been followed for 10 years, and the benefits of the AREDS formulation have persisted over this time.

6. Can diet alone provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the Opti-I formulations?

No. The standard levels of vitamins and minerals are difficult to achieve from diet alone. Besides, Vitamin B and C are water-soluble vitamins that are not stored by the body in large amounts, therefore regular consumption of these vitamins in the diet is necessary However, previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in green, leafy vegetables—a good source of lutein/astaxanthin—have a lower risk of developing AMD. There is reduced risk of developing advanced AMD compared with those who did not receive any supplements.

7. Are there any other side effects or risks from taking the Opti-I formulations?

Opti-I is classified as food by Ministry of Health, which means it can be taken safely every day without any side effects. However, high-dose supplemental nutrients can sometimes interfere with medications and compete with other vital nutrients for absorption into the body. Hence, individuals who are considering taking any supplements should discuss with their primary care doctors and/or eye care professionals.

References:

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lawson_Ekpe/publication/327916169_Antioxidant_effects_of_astaxanthin_in_various_diseases-a_review/links/5bacee9a92851ca9ed2a3d24/Antioxidant-effects-of-astaxanthin-in-various-diseases-a-review.pdf
• Journal of Clinical Therapeutics & Medicines VOL.22; NO.1; PAGE.41-54(2006) The supplementation effect of Astaxanthin on Accommodation and Asthenopia NAGAKI YASUNORI; MIHARA MIHARU; TSUKAHARA HIROKI; ONO SHIGEAKI.
• Journal of Traditional Medicines VOL.19; NO.5; PAGE.170-173(2002) Effects of astaxanthin on accommodation, critical flicker fusion, and pattern visual evoked potential in visual display terminal workers. NAGAKI Y; HAYASAKA S; YAMADA T; HAYASAKA Y; SANADA M; UONOMI T.

  
• Nagaki Y et al., Effects of astaxanthin on accommodation, critical flicker fusions, and pattern visual evoked potential in visual display terminal workers. J Trad Med. 2002;19:170-73.
• Nakamura A et al., Changes in Visual Function Following Peroral Astaxanthin. Jpn J Clin Opthalmol. 2004;58:1051-54.

  
• Nitta T et al., Effects of astaxanthin on accommodation and asthenopia – Dose finding study in healthy volunteers. J Clin Therap Med. 2005;21(5):534-56.

  
• Nagaki Y et al.,The supplementation effect of astaxanthin on accommodation and asthenopia. J Clin Therap Med. 2006;22:41-54.
  
• Nagaki Y et al., Effect of astaxanthin on accommodation and asthenopia. Folia Ophthalomogica Japonica. 2010;3(5):461-68.

  
• Saito M et al., Astaxanthin increases choroidal blood flow velocity. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2012;250:239-45.

  
• Kajita et al., 2009. The effects of a dietary supplement containing astaxanthin on the accommodation functions of the eye in middle-aged and older people. Medical Consultation & New Remedies, 46 (3):89-92 (Japanese).

  
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29384321
  
• https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/67/Supplement_1/766-P
  
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464618306418
  
• Ishiki M, Nishida Y, Ishibashi H, Wada T, Fujisaka S, Takikawa A et al. Impact of divergent effects of astaxanthin on insulin signaling in L6 cells. Endocrinology. 2013;154: 2600-12. doi: 10.1210/en.2012-2198. 
  
• Kishimoto Y, Yoshida H, Kondo K. Potential antiatherosclerotic properties of astaxanthin. Mar Drugs. 2016; 14:35. doi: 10.3390/md14020035.

  
• Kimura M, Iida M, Yamauchi H, Suzuki M, Shibasaki T, Saito Y, Saito H. Astaxanthin supplementation effects on adipocyte size and lipid profile in OLETF rats with hyperphagia and visceral fat accumulation. J Funct Foods. 2014;11:114-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2014.08.001.

  
• Yang Y, Seo JM, Nguyen A, Pham TX, Park HJ, Park Y, Kim B, Bruno RS, Lee J. Astaxanthin-rich extract from the green alga Haematococcuspluvialis lowers plasma lipid concentrations and enhances antioxidant defense in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. J Nutr. 2011;141:1611-7. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.142109.

  
• Tuomilehto J, Lindström J, Eriksson JG, Valle TT, Hämäläinen H, Ilanne-Parikka P et al. Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. N Engl J Med. 2001;344: 1343-50. doi: 10.1056/nejm200105033441801.