NMN Fights Dry Eye

As we enter May , fine dust , pollen , and yellow dust begin to run rampant along with the drier weather . Yellow dust, made up of fine dust particles measuring 3-5 μm in size, contains heavy metals such as iron , silicon , copper , lead , cadmium , and aluminum, as well as other pollutants in the air .

When particles come into contact with the eyes, the conjunctiva or cornea can be irritated , and rubbing the eyes can cause corneal wounds . Corneal wounds can cause various eye diseases such as allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye . In particular, if the tear film does not sufficiently lubricate the surface of the eye, the eyes can easily feel tired , and at this time, strong yellow dust winds can worsen the symptoms of dry eye .

Tears contain trace amounts of lipids , proteins , and carbohydrates, which provide nutrients to the eyes, defend against microorganisms and have an immune function , help enzyme activity, and transmit signals . These tears are composed of an aqueous layer , a lipid layer , and a mucin layer , and most cases of dry eye are caused by a decrease in tears in the aqueous layer . The causes of a decrease in tears in the aqueous layer include decreased tear secretion and increased tear evaporation . Recently, many people complain of dry eye after refractive surgery such as LASEK or LASIK . This is because the corneal sensory nerves are damaged during the corneal surface treatment during refractive surgery, which reduces stimulation to the tear glands and decreases tear secretion .

When tear production is low or tear evaporation is high, the osmotic pressure of tears increases . This is because the lipids , proteins , and carbohydrates in tears maintain a constant concentration, while the water content decreases . Research is ongoing on ingredients that can protect the ocular surface under such high osmotic pressure . Appropriate use of ingredients that are beneficial to eye health can prevent dry eye .

Should I take NMN to prevent dry eye ?

Yes , that's right .

This is because NMN has the ability to reduce inflammation and improve survival by treating the cells that cause dry eye .

[ Summary ]

• Taking NMN can protect the viability of ocular cells even when the eye is dehydrated .
• NMN protects eye cells by maintaining DNA and activating SIRT1, a metabolic health-promoting protein .
• NMN helps macrophages, immune cells, transition into a healing state .

Zhu and colleagues from Changshu Second People's Hospital in China published a study in the Journal of Inflammation Research showing that treating mouse eye cells exposed to hyperosmolarity with NMN preserved their viability . The study suggests that the molecule nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) may offer cell protection in eye diseases such as retinal detachment, which could be used to treat dry eye .

NMN has the effect of reducing inflammation in ocular cells after hyperosmolar exposure by increasing NAD+ levels and activating Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a protein important for metabolic activity and DNA preservation . Furthermore, NMN can modulate ocular immune cells to shift them into a state that promotes healing . These results suggest that consuming NMN may help prevent eye damage, such as retinal detachment, caused by dry eye .

1. Taking NMN can protect the viability of ocular cells even when the eye loses moisture.

(Meng et al., 2021 | Journal of Inflammation Research)

To determine whether hyperosmotic pressure in a saline solution could protect mouse ocular cells in an environment similar to dry eye, 500 μM NMN was administered . The research team found that NMN treatment prevented cell death caused by hyperosmotic stress .

In the graph above, after 24 hours of exposure to saline solution, about 20% of the cells died ( red ) , whereas the results were reversed when NMN was treated (blue ) . In a control group of healthy eye cells in an environment without hyperosmotic conditions, the control group showed about 5% cell death graph ( yellow ), whereas HS cells under hyperosmotic stress showed about 20% cell death graph ( green ). Therefore, when cells under hyperosmotic stress were treated with NMN , the cell death rate normalized to about 5%, which is almost the same as that of healthy cells ( orange ). These results indicate that NMN has a protective effect on ocular cells under hyperosmotic stress in conditions similar to dry eye.

2. NMN protects eye cells by maintaining DNA and activating SIRT1, a metabolic health-promoting protein .

(Meng et al., 2021 | Journal of Inflammation Research)

In the graph above, cells stressed by hyperosmotic pressure showed decreased protein and increased inflammation . NMN helped alleviate inflammation in ocular cells under these conditions by reducing levels of the inflammation-related substance IL-17a .

Furthermore, NMN treatment increased SIRT1 levels under hyperosmotic conditions . Conversely , application of the SIRT1 inhibitor EX 527 recapitulated the original hyperosmotic stress . These results suggest that NMN reduces inflammation under hyperosmotic conditions by upregulating and activating SIRT1 .

3. NMN helps macrophages, which are immune cells, transition into a healing state .

The research team observed the effects of NMN and an IL-17a inhibitor on the state of immune cells called macrophages . Macrophages can exist in two states : an M1 state, which tends to kill nearby cells , and an M2 state, which tends to heal nearby cells . While M1 macrophages increase in hyperosmotic environments like dry eye , treatment with NMN promoted M2 macrophages . An IL-17a inhibitor had the same effect , suggesting that NMN promotes the healing tendency of macrophages by suppressing IL-17a , a marker of inflammation .

These three findings suggest that NMN may be helpful in the hyperosmolar setting of dry eye . In particular , NMN treatment, when combined with artificial tear eye drops, may slow the progression of damage caused by this common eye condition .

Additionally, NMN exhibits synergy when taken with EYE CARE . EYE CARE contains bilberry extract, which protects against cell damage caused by blue light, as well as pycnogenol and lutein . Formulated and designed by doctors, pharmacists , and the Rocket America R&D team, EYE CARE is formulated with a synergistic blend of ingredients, and contains vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc, which help protect the eyes, making it an all-in-one care .

[ Source and References ]

• The Effects of Yellow Dust on the Eyes : https://www.medicaltimes.com/Main/News/NewsView.html?ID=1139729
• Dry Eye and Tear Osmolarity | By Dr. Dream Lens : https://blog.naver.com/bigddble/221152016306
• NMN Improves Cell Survival and Reduces Inflammation in Dry Eye Disease: https://www.nmn.com/news/nmn-treatment-dry-eye-disease
• [ Health Information ] Modern people's eye health concerns , blue light : https://rokitamerica.com/blogs/blog/bilberry_extract_that_blocks_bluelight