Frost & Sullivan has presented OmniActive Health Technologies with the 2017 North American Product Leadership Award. OmniActive’s Lutemax^® 2020 is a unique eye health ingredient that has demonstrated efficacy and safety through extensive clinical trials and university partnerships.

Evolving consumer lifestyles, which are characterised by hectic schedules, prolonged exposure to high-energy blue light from computers/screens, and exposure to toxic materials adversely impact human eyesight. In response, both ophthalmologists and consumers have turned to eye health supplements for proactive eye care health maintenance. OmniActive Health Technologies has met this growing interest with Lutemax^® 2020. This product contains all 3 macular carotenoids (lutein, RR-zeaxanthin, and RS [meso]-zeaxanthin) in a specific ratio and the combination of these macular carotenoids supports visual function and overall eye health. In addition, this combination also supports skin and brain wellness.

The eye health supplement market is poised for increasing growth because consumers have realised the health benefits of macular carotenoids—the pigments responsible for the yellow and red color in plants. Macular carotenoids, specifically lutein, RR-zeaxanthin, and RS (meso)-zeaxanthin, are the only three found in the human eye. However, current use of such supplements rich in all three carotenoids is limited, with the United States dominating the market followed by Europe and Asia. Some products on the market offer a combination of lutein and RR-zeaxanthin, but the majority is not known to offer all three with clinically supported bioavailability and efficacy.

"With increasing awareness and concern among consumers about eye health, it is imperative that eye health ingredient companies understand the rising market demand and speed up research processes for eye health ingredients that meet consumers’ needs, including demonstrating the short- and long-term benefits of macular carotenoids," said industry analyst Arun Ramesh.

OmniActive’s goal is to broaden the appeal and market opportunities for macular carotenoids through an ambitious plan that includes:

• Formula development and clinical research
• Sustainable farming and vertically integrated manufacturing
• Consumer research and educational outreach

"We are honoured to receive this award which is a true testament to the uniqueness of Lutemax^® 2020. Sustainably-sourced from a fully integrated supply chain, Lutemax^® 2020 delivers all three macular carotenoids for a more complete formulation," said Lynda Doyle, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing at OmniActive Health Technologies. "Supported by strong science including the B.L.U.E. (Blue Light User Exposure) study, Lutemax^® 2020 is the first and only macular carotenoid ingredient which showed beneficial effects on vision health and performance, sleep quality as well as reducing eye strain and fatigue during long-duration exposure to blue light which addresses the needs of modern lifestyles."

Through its internal quality tests and studies done in partnership with universities, the company has developed multi-step quality control processes, including its PlantActive™ Verification program, which employs DNA barcoding and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis to ensure authenticity and consistency that comply with proposed NDI (New Dietary Ingredients) regulations.

Frost & Sullivan analysis concludes that OmniActive Health Technologies’ proprietary product, Lutemax^® 2020, addresses industry challenges by offering eye, skin, and brain health benefits from a single ingredient. In addition, the company has created strong visibility in the market through campaigns depicting the health benefits of macular carotenoids. Through consistent investments in R&D, this pioneering company continues to broaden its scientific substantiation on eye health ingredients and focuses on new studies that support bioavailability, visual function, and, more importantly, emphasize the benefits of macular carotenoids to support visual function during prolonged digital screen exposure. For these reasons, OmniActive Health Technologies has earned the Frost & Sullivan’s 2017 North American Product Leadership Award.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid market acceptance. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.