Valensa Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for Leadership in Nutritional Eye Health Market

ORLANDO, Fla., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Valensa International (Eustis, Fla.) is the recipient of a 2009 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Enhancement for its work in developing the global eye health market. Based on its analysis of the eye health market, Frost & Sullivan said that Valensa had expanded the market for astaxanthin as an eye health ingredient. The Award cited the holding of the Tso Patent and Valensa's approach to developing formulations using astaxanthin and other ingredients as the key to their success.

According to Research Analyst Sneha Pasricha, Frost & Sullivan's analysis compared astaxanthin favorably to lutein as an eye health support ingredient. "Owing to astaxanthin's higher antioxidant capacity compared to that of lutein, and established by relevant tests, diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal, arterial, and venous occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, and depth perception issues are expected to be mitigated by fewer per-day doses of astaxanthin compared to that of lutein," said Pasricha. "This validates the cost-effectiveness and proficiency of astaxanthin as a valuable eye health ingredient and Valensa International's vision to recognize the potential of the ingredient and tap it through suitable strategies." These conditions are addressed in the Tso patent.

Accepting the Award for Valensa, Dr. Rudi E. Moerck, President & CEO, was upbeat about the potential of the company's ZANTHIN Natural Astaxanthin and value-added formulations using the ingredient. Astaxanthin was one of several carotenoids associated with the successful two-year Carotenoids and Antioxidant in Age-Related Maculopathy - Italian Study (CARMIS) age-related macular degeneration study. "We are very pleased that an organization with the respect that Frost & Sullivan commands has recognized our work in the area of eye health with astaxanthin. We feel that this validates our position with this ingredient in the marketplace and should serve to alert the nutraceutical and health community about the untapped potential that exists with this ingredient," he said. According to Frost & Sullivan, Valensa International held approximately 29.0 percent share in the U.S. astaxanthin market in 2007, with almost 48.8 percent share in terms of volume in the eye health sector alone, indicating the degree of emphasis the company places on the eye health attributes of astaxanthin.

Moerck sees a great deal of potential for an "astaxanthin boom" in the near future. "Increasingly we are seeing that astaxanthin outperforms lutein in dealing with oxidative damage to the eye and is an excellent complement to lutein in eye health formulations. With the aging of our population in the United States and Europe, we feel the time is now for astaxanthin and eye health," he added. For more information on Valensa's ZANTHIN Natural Astaxanthin, visit http://www.valensa.com.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Valensa International