Compositions and Methods for Maintaining, Strengthening, Improving, or Promoting Eye Health

1 . A nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosing basis: (a) α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (c) α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, and α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 10-1000 mg.

3 . The composition of claim 2 , further comprising genistein or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof in an amount of about 20-200 mg.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 100-600 mg, ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 100-600 mg, and α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 10-600 mg.

5 . The composition of claim 2 , further comprising genistein or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof in an amount of about 20-100 mg,

6 . The composition of claim 3 , further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 3 , vitamin B 6 , pharmaceutical equivalents thereof, and combinations thereof.

7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein said material is present in an amount from about 100% to about 300% of an RDA thereof.

8 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein said material is present in an amount from about 100% to about 200% of an RDA thereof.

9 . The composition of claim 7 , further comprising chromium(III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein said chromium(III) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is present in an amount from about 50 μg to about 500 μg.

11 . The composition of claim 2 , further comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, astaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, phenolic compounds, anthocyanosides, essential fatty acids, and combinations thereof.

12 . The composition of claim 3 , further comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthine, lycopene, astaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, phenolic compounds, anthocyanosides, essential fatty acids, and combinations thereof.

13 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the phenolic compounds comprise oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and the essential fatty acids comprise omega-3.

14 . The composition of claim 9 , further comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthine, lycopene, astaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, phenolic compounds, anthocyanosides, essential fatty acids, and combinations thereof.

15 . A nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosing basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (f) about 15-30 mg niacinamide or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (g) about 2-4 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

16 . A nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosing basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (f) about 15-30 mg niacinamide or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (g) about 2-4 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (h) about 100-250 μg chromium(III) chloride hexahydrate.

17 . A nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosing basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof, (f) about 15-30 mg niacinamide or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (g) about 24 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof, and (h) about 100-250 μg chromium(III) picolinate.

18 . A method for maintaining, strengthening, improving, or promoting ocular health of a subject, the method comprising administering to said subject a nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosing basis: (a) α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (c) α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises genistein or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, and α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 10-1000 mg.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the composition further comprises genistein or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof in an amount of about 20-200 mg.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject suffers from, or is at risk of developing, an ocular disease.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said ocular disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetic ocular complications, cataract, glaucoma, ocular inflammation, and combinations thereof.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said ocular disease is diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the subject suffers from, or is at risk of developing, an ocular disease.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein said ocular disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetic ocular complications, cataract, glaucoma, ocular inflammation, and combinations thereof.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein said ocular disease is diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema.

28 . The method of claim 18 , wherein α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 100-600 mg, ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 100-600 mg, and α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 10-600 mg.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the composition further comprises genistein or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof in an amount of about 20-100 mg.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the composition further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of vitamin B 1 , vitamin B 3 , vitamin B 6 , pharmaceutically equivalents thereof, and combinations thereof.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said material is present in an amount from about 100% to about 300% of an RDA thereof.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said material is present in an amount from about 100% to about 200% of an RDA thereof.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said composition further comprises chromium(III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein said chromium(III) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is present in an amount from about 50 μg to about 500 μg.

35 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthine, lycopene, astaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, phenolic compounds, anthocyanosides, essential fatty acids, and combinations thereof.

36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthine, lycopene, astaxanthin, flavonoids, resveratrol, phenolic compounds, anthocyanosides, essential fatty acids, and combinations thereof.

37 . A method for maintaining, strengthening, improving, or promoting ocular health of a subject, the method comprising administering to said subject a nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosage basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (f) about 15-30 mg niacinamide or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (g) about 2-4 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical thereof.

38 . A method for maintaining, strengthening, improving, or promoting ocular health of a subject, the method comprising administering to said subject a nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosage basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (f) about 15-30 mg niacinamide or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (g) about 2-4 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (h) about 100-250 μg chromium(III) chloride hexahydrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

39 . A method for maintaining, strengthening, improving, or promoting ocular health of a subject, the method comprising administering to said subject a nutritional or dietary composition comprising, on a daily dosage basis: (a) about 300-450 mg α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (b) about 50-70 mg genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (c) about 200-300 mg ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (d) about 200-350 mg α-tocopheryl acetate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (e) about 1.5-3.5 mg thiamine mononitrate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; (f) about 20-24 mg niacinamide; (g) about 2-4 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and (h) about 100-250 μg chromium(III) picolinate or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof.

40 . A method for producing a composition, the method comprising:

(a) providing amounts of ingredients which comprise: (1) α-lipoic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof, (2) ascorbic acid or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof, and (3) α-tocopherol or a pharmaceutical equivalent thereof; and

(b) combining said amounts of said ingredients to produce said composition.

41 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising a step of forming said composition into a tablet, caplet, gel, capsule, solution, syrup, dispersion, emulsion, or patch.

42 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising providing an amount of genistein before or during the step of combining the ingredients.

43 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising providing an amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as another ingredient, before the step of combining.

44 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising a step of forming said composition into a tablet, caplet, gel, capsule, solution, syrup, dispersion, emulsion, or patch.

45 . The method of claim 40 , wherein said α-lipoic acid or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, said ascorbic acid or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 50-1000 mg, and said α-tocopherol or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 10-1000 mg.

46 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said genistein or pharmaceutical equivalent thereof is present in an amount of about 20-200 mg,