Manufacturing Excellent Eye Health Supplements and Vitamins

Nutraceutical manufacturing includes that of vitamins and supplements for eye health, a region of wellness that many people often overlook until they begin experiencing eye problems. If you would like a branch of your private label brand to benefit preventative health, then consider what we are about to share with you about eye conditions and how dietary supplements can help.

Common Eye Conditions

Aged-related macular degeneration: AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in America. It affects more than 10 million people, and though mostly associated with aging, some forms of macular degeneration affect younger individuals as well. Age-related macular degeneration occurs when there is deterioration of light-sensitive cells in the macular area of the retina, which is responsible for seeing fine detail, focusing, and sending the information of what is seen to the brain.

• Dry form of macular degeneration is the most common type, accounting for 90% of diagnosed cases. Dry macular degeneration is where the light sensitive cells of the macula break down, which is usually followed by wet macular degeneration.
• Wet macular degeneration accounts for about 10% of cases, but results in 90% of legal blindness. It is possible for dry macular degeneration to advance and cause blindness without turning into the wet form, and for the dry form to suddenly change into the wet form. Though frightening for many people, there is much potential for your private label to provide the eye care at-risk consumers need in order to support what vision they still have and keep their eyes healthy for as long as possible.

Cataracts: A clouding of the lens of the eye, cataracts can impair one's ability to see well enough to perform daily tasks and can worsen over time. This condition is very much common among older adults and may call for surgery at some point to create clearer vision.

Vitamins Beneficial for Eye Health

Vitamin A: Deficiency in Vitamin A can lead to impaired vision as the conjunctiva, which is normally clear, develops a white spot called a Bitot’s spot. While foods like egg yolks and broccoli are good sources of the nutrient, people have health issues that may hinder proper absorption of Vitamin A, calling for supplementation with a Vitamin A capsule, tablet, softgel, powder, or gummy. Conditions of the sort include liver cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, Chron's disease, and Celiac disease.

Vitamin C: Though cataracts unfortunately cannot be stopped once developed, a diet rich in Vitamin C has been proven to slow cataract progression. Research shows that the fluids that bathe the eye are rich in Vitamin C, preventing the lens from oxidizing and therefore becoming clouded. Eating foods rich in the nutrient, and/or taking a Vitamin C supplement can help prevent cataracts and slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Your customers may be smokers or have diabetes. There are other factors at stake that raise the chances of developing certain types of cataracts, making a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle critical to eye longevity.

Supplements for Eye Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: DHA in omega-3 fatty acids plays a role in limiting inflammation and helping cells in the retina to heal and regenerate after damage from light exposure and through the aging process. If your vegan customers don't keep up with their omega-3 intake through walnuts and green leafy vegetables, then your high-quality fish oil supplement might just be ideal for them.

Gingko biloba Leaf Extract: There is some supporting evidence indicating that Ginkgo biloba may be beneficial in preventing deteriorating vision due to age-related macular degeneration, making it a potentially viable ingredient for your eye health product.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: These are two of the most used ingredients when manufacturing eye vitamins and supplements. According to brain health expert and author of Genius Foods Max Lugavere, lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids that accumulate in the eye as well as the brain, working to protect the eyes against oxidative stress. Lugavere continues "They've also been found to protect against eye strain due to screen exposure. Beta-carotene is also a carotenoid and very important because it's also provitamin A. We eat it from plants, and it becomes converted to Vitamin A, which is essential for proper eye function." And we have now come full circle. In some way, all of the mentioned ingredients are connected, all waiting for you to formulate into the industry's next best-selling vision-supporting supplement.

The Need for Supplementation

Consider this: around 11 million people in the United States alone have some form of age-related macular degeneration. This number is expected to double to nearly 22 million by 2050. And the statistics don’t get better with time. The number of people living with macular degeneration is anticipated to climb to 196 million worldwide by 2020 and 288 million by 2040. While your customers have likely been advised to eat plenty of carrots and salmon, the National Eye Institute suggests that there are higher doses of vitamins and minerals that cannot be obtained through diet alone. Enter private label supplement manufacturing with a service provider with which you actually enjoy doing business.

Vitamin Manufacturer Checklist

Before conducting any further business with your current dietary supplement service provider, answer these questions. It might help gear you towards safer vitamin manufacturing, better value, and more quality-driven finished products.

Is your manufacturer FDA registered and GMP compliant? If you are new to the industry, this is the first question you should be asking. FDA registration means that the team with which you are working voluntarily undergoes audits to ensure that its clients know their vitamin manufacturing service provider cares about safety. While FDA registration is not required for manufactures and distributors to sell dietary supplements, this document guarantees you and your customers are receiving products from manufacturing facilities that are consistently checked and maintained for the utmost safety.

Is your vitamin manufacturer GMP compliant? Good Manufacturing Practice is a system that ensures your products are handled and controlled according to quality standards. This is important if you are concerned about contamination, product specification, and minimizing errors.

Do products go through a Quality Control process? If the current vitamin manufacturing company you are currently using does not abide by GMP regulations, then it certainly cannot guarantee your materials and products are produced or stored in climate-controlled facilities, which can 100% affect the quality of your products. Say you offer customers a Vitamin C gummy. If the temperature of your vitamin manufacturer's facility does not fall within the acceptable range, then you may end up with one big block of gelatin gummies. Not ideal, to say the least.

What are the lead times? The hustle and bustle nature of the nutraceutical industry calls for quick lead times and low minimum order quantities. This we know because we try our best to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to get your product to market. While our lead times are comparable to that of vitamin manufacturers with which you may already be working, then consider the value you are receiving. Is your provider serving up supplements so fast it’s questionable? Does it ever draw a line in terms of what can be put into a capsule just to gain your business? Are you paying a lot for very little in return? Sometimes it is necessary to zoom out and take a broader look at your current situation to determine whether your private label vitamin business is in the right hands.

Does the provider ever appear at trade shows? Unlike many unreliable vitamin manufacturers, Makers Nutrition is your one stop shop for convenience, quality, and coherence. We happily discuss why that is with potential and current clients at trade shows such as Natural Products Expo East and Expo West, the leading trade show in the natural, organic, and healthy products industry. If you wish to be partnered with a transparent vitamin and supplement service provider that will only give you facts, then ask at which trade show you can meet up with them next.

Supplement Manufacturing with a Company You Trust

No matter the type of dietary supplement or vitamin you are manufacturing, it is best to get answers right away. Your current vitamin manufacturer or supplement manufacturer may not be giving you everything you deserve, putting your private label at a disadvantage. Whether you are a startup or seasoned health and wellness brand, Makers Nutrition treats each client the same. We offer everyone the opportunity to save money, manufacture, package, and deliver optimal products, all while strategically growing their business. Ready to make the switch? Call today!