Expert Opinion
about Can C Eye Drops
Senile cataract is the most commonly performed surgical operation in the world today; some 26,000 people each year, in the United States alone are diagnosed with senile cataract each day. There are 1.35 million eye operations each year in the USA and 2% of them (or 27,000 individuals) develop serious complications as a result of cataract surgery.
Can-C eye-drops have been shown to help reduce, reverse and slow the occurrence of senile cataract.
Senile cataract is caused by the nuclear matter of the elderly human lens hardening and taking on a yellowish/brown color. Once this occurs there is obvious vision impairment and deterioration.
This hardening and discoloration of the lens is the result of lifelong cross-linking (or glycosylation), of the lens proteins with ascorbate. This persists in the aqueous humor at high concentrations, due to the kynurenine derivatives, and takes place due to the low availability of natural defenses in the form of anti-oxidants, (which decline with advancing age).
Can-C contains N-acetylcarnosine which is a di-peptide, (that's two amino acids linked together). The particularly pure form is known as n-alpha-acetylcarnosine.
As you can imagine this is a complex subject. But essentially, N-acetylcarnosine is a "carrier" for the di-peptide L-carnosine into the aqueous humor of the eye, (this is the fluid area surrounding the lens).
It is here, that the substance becomes most active in its ability to basically act, as a natural and comprehensive anti-oxidant. Once N-acetylcarnosine has delivered L-carnosine safely through into the aqueous humor, the L-carnosine itself is flushed out of the eye via the canal of schlemm, and once into the bloodstream, it is broken down by carnosinase and excreted. N-acetylcarnosine is acting as a time release version of carnosine resistant to hydrolysis with carnosinases.
1. 88.9% had an improvement of glare sensitivity.
2. 41.5% had an improvement of the transmissivity of the lens.
3. 90% had an improvement in visual acuity.
Animal Trials
The testing of various anti-glycaytion agents over nearly a decade led a Russian research team to the development of n-alpha-acetylcarnosine as a delivery system for the natural eye anti-oxidant of L-carnosine. Once laboratory testing was passed, the next stage began to test the n-acetylcarnosine eye-drops in the eyes of animals, (specifically canines and rabbits). These studies produced remarkably fast results in the improvement of clarity, glare sensitivity and overall vision for the animals involved. Furthermore, no serious side effects were noted and the beneficial affects were sustainable. Unsurprisingly, these positive results in animals led to the studies being continued in humans.
Human Trials
Carnosine eye-drops were used in a clinical trial to treat 96 patients aged 60 and above. All the patients had senile cataract in various degrees of maturity. The duration of the disease in these patients ranged between 2 and 21 years. The patients instilled 1 or 2 drops into each eye 3 or 4 times a day, for a period of 3 to 6 months.
The results showed that there was a pronounced effect on senile cataract, the rate was 100% (i.e. all patients experienced an improvement). For the more mature senile cataract the effective rate was still an extremely impressive 80%. Importantly, it was also noted that there were no side effects in any of the cases. Another Russian study was designed to document and quantify the changes in lens clarity over a 6 to 24 month period. Their average age was 65 and all suffered from senile cataract of a minimal to an advanced opacification.
The patients received either a 1% solution of N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops or a placebo as 2-drops twice a day into each eye. The results at 6 months were impressive; 88.9% of all eyes treated with N-acetylcarnosine had an improvement of glare sensitivity. Furthermore, 90% of the eyes treated with N-acetylcarnosine showed an improvement in visual acuity. In contrast, there was little change in the eye quality of the placebo group at 6 months and the placebo group also experienced a gradual deterioration at 12 to 24 months.
Another study evaluated patients who had various degrees of eyesight impairment but who did not have the symptoms of cataract. After a course of treatment ranging from 2 to 6 months the conclusion was that the eye-drops alleviated eye tiredness and continued to improve eyesight (i.e. there was more clear vision). This is an indicator that the eye-drops have a value both for preventative purposes as well as medical applications.
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References
- NAC: Is it the cure for cataract?
IAS Anti-Aging Bulletin, Winter 2001
- Warning! Beware of copies a statement of fact from IVP.
- An interview with Mark Babizhayev Ph.D., about the development of NAC eye-drops.
IAS Anti-Aging Bulletin, Winter 2001
- The need for purity and precise formula in the development of N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops.
Interview with Mark Babizhayev Ph.D., 1st Paris Anti-Aging Conference, February, 2003.
- Efficacy of N-acetylcarnosine in the treatment of cataracts.
Drugs R&D, 2002: 3(2): 87-103
- Lipid peroxidation as a possible cause of human cataracts. N-acetylcarnosine as a potent ophthalmic drug for the treatment of human cataracts.
Lecture by Mark Babizhayev Ph.D., at the 3rd Monte Carlo Anti-Aging Conference
- N-acetylcarnosine, a natural histidine-containing dipeptide, as a potent ophthalmic drug in treatment of human cataracts.
Peptides, Vol. 22 (6) (2001) pp. 979-994
- Imidazole containing peptidomimetic NACA as a potent drug for the medicinal treatment of age-related cataract in humans.
Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 1 43- 62, 2000.
- The Natural Histidine-Containing Dipeptide N-alpha-acetylcarnosine as an antioxidant for ophthalmic Use.
Biochemistry, Volume 65 (2000) number 5
- N-alpha-acetylcarnosine is a prodrug of L-carnosine in ophthalmic application as antioxidant.
Clin Chim Acta. 1996 Oct. 15; 254(1):1-21.
- Lipid peroxidation as a possible cause of cataract.
Mech. Ageing Dev., 1988 July, 44(1): pp69-89.