NATURE'S SHIELD & SUPER ANTIOXIDANT - ERGOTHIONEINE

Discovered nearly a century ago whilst studying the humble mushroom, interest in Ergothioneine caught further attention after it was found that the body had evolved a very specific transporter to carry this compound to where the body needs it most.

MTHK’s Ultimate Eye Vitamin – is the first of its kind in eye health nutrition to contain Ergothioneine’s powerful antioxidant properties that promote healthy cell function and strengthen your eye’s natural defences— ensuring optimal vision and resilience against environmental stress.

Understanding how vision works can help us learn why antioxidants are vital to protecting our sight and our sense of vision.

At the heart of vision is the retina—a thin layer of cells located right at the back of your eye—no thicker than 0.3mm, responsible for your vision. It works hard every day to capture light, turning it into signals your brain can interpret into the images you see every day. Without it, your eyes wouldn’t be able to ‘talk’ to your brain, and you wouldn’t be able to experience the world around you.

The process of turning lights into signals in a form that can be sent to the brain requires a lot of energy, as well as nutrients and oxygen, making the retina one of the most metabolically active tissues in the human body. The constant exposure to light and oxygen in this area leads to high levels of oxidative stress—a harmful process which, over time, can cause wear and tear—essentially causing damage to the retina and affecting vision.

The effect of ‘oxidative stress’ is most pronounced in the centre of the retina, specifically in an area known as the ‘macula’. It carries a heavy visual workload to support sharp and central vision—making it most vulnerable to damage from oxidative stress.

Remarkably, however, the human body has found a way to protect itself from harm by accumulating high levels of protective antioxidants in the retina, which are specifically enriched in the macula. These antioxidants defend sight for sharp, central vision.

The pioneering study led by Professor Marcus Fruttiger revealed a significant discovery that has helped us to understand that the protection needed by this area, which extends beyond the antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin and includes a third component, Ergothioneine—also only sourced from our diet—known for its highly potent antioxidant properties.

What you see above ground—the part we consume—is the mushroom, which is a tiny part of the fungi, with most of it hidden underground growing in nutrient-rich soils. It is no surprise, then, that edible mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. The best part is that they are very low in calories, virtually fat-free, and a great source of dietary fibre.

But there's a lot more to mushrooms than their earthy ‘umami’ flavours and beneficial nutritional profile. Other than some bacteria, mushrooms like oyster, porcini and some shiitake varieties are the only other dietary food sources able to make the powerful antioxidant — Ergothioneine.

Despite its rarity, Ergothioneine is distributed throughout the body, from the eyes to the brain, where it plays an important role in maintaining cellular health.

Since our bodies can’t produce Ergothioneine naturally, supplementation through advanced formulas like MTHK's Ultimate Eye Vitamin) is key to reaping its unparalleled benefits.
The body easily absorbs Ergothioneine, and it has evolved a mechanism to transport this highly potent antioxidant directly to areas with high oxidative stress, such as the retina and its macula which is most vulnerable to harm.

MTHK's Ultimate Eye Vitamins offer the most advanced and comprehensive protection for your eyes—shielding them with the antioxidant properties of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and now Ergothioneine, a powerhouse combination for long-lasting vision.