Research Shows Americans' View Of Eye Health Is Out Of Focus

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent survey conducted by DSM Nutritional Products found that 83 percent of adults in the U.S. believe worsening eye health is inevitable with age. What many people don't realize is that there's a connection between healthy eyes and proper nutrition, and it goes beyond eating carrots.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7129751-dsm-nutritional-products-eye-health-survey/

According to Dr. Kimberly Reed, optometrist and Ocular Nutrition Society board member, "Incorporating certain nutrients into the diet can support a lifetime of healthy vision and help protect against serious conditions, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The latter affects more than 2 million Americans and can lead to severe visual impairment."

Only 10 percent of adults are getting the recommended amount of two nutrients crucial to eye health–lutein and zeaxanthin.¹ This is likely due to the fact that only 41 percent of Americans are familiar with lutein and only six percent have ever heard of zeaxanthin.² Studies have found that the typical American diet lacks the nutrients people need and many adults struggle to get the recommended amounts of many nutrients from food alone.

The DSM Nutritional Products survey also found that many Americans aren't focused on maintaining their eyesight. In fact, if given the opportunity, nearly a third of adults would take a material luxury item over a lifetime of perfect vision, and more than 1 in 5 Americans are more concerned with maintaining their youthful appearance than healthy eyesight.²

According to Reed, one essential way to maintain eye health throughout life is to focus on a diet packed with the nutrients known to support eye health, including:

• Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Colorful fruits and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges, and tangerines
• Omega-3 (DHA/EPA): Fatty fish, including salmon and herring, fish oil, and algae
• Vitamin E: Oils, wheat germ, almonds and peanuts
• Vitamin C: Citrus fruits and berries
• Zinc: Beef, pumpkin seeds and lentils

"It is difficult to obtain all of the nutrients that support eye health from food alone," says Elizabeth Somer, registered dietitian and author of The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. "To fill in the gaps, consider adding a supplement specifically formulated for eye health and vision to your diet."

For more information, visit VitaminsinMotion.com.

DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™  
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 24,500 employees deliver annual net sales of around €10 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

Vitamins in Motion  
Vitamins play an essential role for health, wellness and disease prevention throughout the lifecycle. They are key to solving our global nutritional challenges. DSM, a global leader in health and nutrition science, is leading an initiative – Vitamins in Motion – to highlight the important role of vitamins. The campaign advocates for increased access, through innovative solutions, to the essential vitamins all people need to be healthy and well-nourished. To learn more, visit www.vitaminsinmotion.com.

¹ American Optometric Association
² DSM Nutritional Products Survey (2013, 2014)

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7129751-dsm-nutritional-products-eye-health-survey/

SOURCE DSM Nutritional Products

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