Nutritional Supplement Composition for Eye Health

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nutritional supplements for vision support are ineffective in preventing or reversing visual acuity loss associated with age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as the underlying causes of these conditions remain unknown and existing formulations fail to provide significant benefits.

Innovation Solution

A dietary supplement composition combining copper glycinate, zinc glycinate, natural vitamin E, and optional antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin, and coenzyme Q, formulated to provide enhanced absorption and retention, thereby reducing the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration and cataract development.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing nutritional supplement formulations are used for vision support, then general eye health is maintained, but they fail to prevent or reverse visual acuity loss associated with age-related macular degeneration and cataracts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in preventing visual acuity lossVSAvoidability to address unknown causes of macular degeneration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of the supplement formulation by selecting specific forms of nutrients (glycinate chelates for copper and zinc, natural vitamin E) and optimizing their dosages to achieve superior absorption and effectiveness in preventing visual acuity loss, moving beyond standard supplement formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite nutritional formulation combining multiple specific nutrients (copper glycinate, zinc glycinate, natural vitamin E, and optional antioxidants) in defined ratios to achieve synergistic effects that address the complex, unknown causes of macular degeneration and cataracts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If standard zinc and copper supplements are used, then general nutritional needs are met, but absorption and retention are insufficient to provide significant vision benefits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsorption and retention of nutrientsVSAvoidvisual acuity preservation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical form parameters of zinc and copper from standard salts to glycinate chelates, which have superior absorption and retention characteristics, thereby improving nutrient bioavailability and visual acuity preservation outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The glycinate molecule serves as an intermediary carrier that enhances the absorption and retention of copper and zinc by the body, facilitating more effective delivery of these nutrients to eye tissues compared to standard supplement forms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9271955B2Nutritional supplements for eye health and related methods

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 OHIO STATE INNOVATION FOUND

AI summary

A nutritional or dietary supplement composition that strengthens and promotes a general eye health benefit for aging adults, including retinal health through the prevention, stabilization, reversal and/or treatment of visual acuity loss by reducing the risk of developing late stage or advanced age-related macular degeneration in persons with early age-related macular degeneration. The nutritional or dietary supplement composition may likewise reduce the risk of vision loss associated with the development of cataracts.