At the Shaklee Conference in August, Dr. Bruce Daggy talked about eye health.  The National Institutes of Health has found that a formula called "AREDS" positively affects eye health, especially in dry macular degeneration.  It contains many nutrients similar to those in Shaklee's CarotoMax and FlavoMax.

Dr. Daggy told of optometrist Dr. Tom McHugh of Morehead KY.  McHugh added Shaklee's VIVIX to the AREDS formula and carefully recorded the results.  Thirty-four patients with an average age of 73 who had dry macular degeneration were studied.  The eye chart we're all familiar with was the measure used.

Of the 34 patients, 70% improved.  Even patients who could no longer drive were driving again!  No one got worse.  Typically, patients never improve and can even get worse with a change in treatment.

In macular degeneration, the aging eye produces accumulations of proteins and lipids that impact vision. These are called "drusen."  In the McHugh trial, these accumulations diminished.  Also, the topography of the eye improved.  Good nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin seemed to accumulate in just the right place in the eye to eliminate drusen.

Dr. Daggy emphasized that these are preliminary findings, but "highly interesting."  Only 3 things can improve dry macular degeneration: 1) Hasten the removal of debris, 2) Fortify the health of the eye, 3) Decrease the inflammaton*.  (*We recall clinical studies where VIVIX was taken after an unhealthy, high fat meal & protected the person from the damaging inflammation response that would typically result.)

We still need to find out why some of these positive things happen.  What we can say is that these are fascinating observations about the eye.  We can't claim that VIVIX or the combination of nutrients treat or heal the eye.  However, professionals are noticing.  Dr. Daggy was invited to talk with Dr. Stuart Richer, OD of the Vets Admin in Chicago, about our research.  Stay tuned!