Crocetin, an ingredient expected to inhibit the progression of myopia. Crocetin, an ingredient expected to inhibit the progression of myopia.

Focusing on genes involved in the progression and suppression of myopia. Focusing on genes involved in the progression and suppression of myopia.

There are several genes that are thought to be related to myopia. Among them, the EGR1 gene is said to have a role in suppressing the progression of myopia.

Furthermore, there is a component called crocetin that activates the EGR1 gene.
A myopia research team at the Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, searched for "food components that activate EGR1" and found that "crocetin" was by far the most effective at activating the EGR1 gene.

Crocetin activates the function of genes that suppress the progression of myopia. Crocetin activates the function of genes that suppress the progression of myopia.

Crocetin, a food ingredient that activates EGR1 Crocetin, a food ingredient that activates EGR1

We compared the expression levels of EGR1 in human-derived cells when hundreds of food components said to be beneficial for eye health were added, with the expression level of cells without any additive set to 1.
Compared to other components, crocetin showed extremely high EGR1 activity.

Data: Mori K, Kurihara T et al. (2019)

What is crocetin?

Crocetin is a natural yellow pigment found in gardenia fruit and saffron. It is also found in several herbal medicines and has been used for health purposes for centuries.

Gardenia fruit Gardenia fruit

Crocetin is a type of carotenoid, related to "beta-carotene" found in carrots.
It has powerful antioxidant properties and, compared to common carotenoids, has a smaller molecular weight, making it easily absorbed.
Furthermore, crocetin is a precious ingredient, as only 10g can be extracted from 7.5kg of gardenia fruit.

For example, crocetin is found in the following foods. For example, crocetin is found in the following foods.

Gardenia fruit and saffron, which contain crocetin, are actually used in many common foods.
Gardenia fruit is used to color candied chestnuts, chestnut paste, and pickled radishes, while saffron is used to flavor and color paella and saffron rice.

Candied chestnuts (1 piece, 20g): Crocetin 0.028mg Candied chestnuts (1 piece, 20g): Crocetin 0.028mg

Data: Journal of Food Hygiene, 37(6), 372-377 (1996).

The function of crocetin

• Suppresses the progression of nearsightedness. • Promotes recovery from eye fatigue. • Improves blemishes and dullness. • Improves sleep quality. • Suppresses the progression of nearsightedness. • Promotes recovery from eye fatigue. • Improves blemishes and dullness. • Improves sleep quality.

Crocetin is known not only to inhibit the progression of myopia, but also to promote recovery from eye fatigue, improve sleep quality, and help improve blemishes and dullness.
The ciliary muscle in the eye, which adjusts focus, becomes tense (contracts) when you look at something close up, such as a computer screen, and is released (relaxes) when you look at something far away after finishing the task.
Eye strain is caused by a decrease in the eye's ability to adjust focus, leading to accommodative spasm, where the ciliary muscle becomes excessively strained when looking at something close up.
It has been found that consuming crocetin has an effect of promoting the recovery from eye fatigue.
Furthermore, improving the quality of your sleep is also important for relieving eye strain.
Crocetin has been reported to have an effect of improving sleep quality.
Furthermore, because it has strong antioxidant properties, it is said to help prevent cell aging, promote skin cell turnover, and maintain skin brightness and elasticity, thus contributing to the improvement of blemishes and dullness.
Thus, incorporating foods and supplements containing crocetin into your diet can be expected to have benefits for both your health and your beauty.

Crocetin's effect of inhibiting myopia progression

A research group from Keio University, Osaka University, and Rohto Pharmaceutical has confirmed that crocetin, a pigment component derived from gardenia, significantly suppresses the elongation of the eyeball length and the myopia of children.

The function of crocetin

Changes in axial length, refractive error (equivalent spherical power), and choroid thickness. Changes in axial length, refractive error (equivalent spherical power), and choroid thickness.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 69 elementary school children aged 6 to 12 with mild to moderate myopia (-1.5D to -4.5D). Participants were given soft capsules containing 7.5 mg of crocetin once daily for 24 weeks.
In the group that took crocetin for 24 weeks, axial length elongation was suppressed by 14% compared to the group that took a placebo without crocetin.
Furthermore, refractive myopia was suppressed by 20%.
Furthermore, it is known that as nearsightedness worsens, the choroid, a vascular membrane located outside the retina, thins.
The study also found that the choroid was thinner in the group that took a placebo, while it was significantly thicker in the group that took crocetin.
Based on the above, it was confirmed that taking crocetin has a significant effect in suppressing the progression of myopia.

Data: Mori K, Torii H, Fujimoto S, et al. (2019)

If you have any concerns, please see an ophthalmologist. If you have any concerns, please see an ophthalmologist.

A child's eyes are precious.
During childhood, when both the body and eyes are growing, it is important to have regular checkups.
Receiving proper guidance is important.
If you have any concerns about your eyes, consult an ophthalmologist.

Supervision

Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine
Kojimachi Odori Ophthalmology Clinic
Professor Kiwako Mori