Yellow Flowers the Key to Treatment of Eye Disease

A pioneer in the fight against age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? has passed away. Rod Ausich was the inventor who discovered that Lutein could be a powerful tool in preventing AMD. Dr. Ausich was a scientist and executive at Kemin Industries and created FloraGLO Lutein. FloraGLO Lutein is the premier Lutein used exclusively in all VisiVite ocular nutritional formulas. Lutein helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and is derived from the petals of marigold petals. At the time of the discovery, Mr. Ausich was working as the Research and Development director for the agriculture unit of Kemin Industries. Rod was asked to research the possibility of using Lutein as a food colorant. Rod quickly realized the potential that Lutein could have on vision health. It took two years to bring Lutein into commercial production. Ausich joined Kemin in 1994 as as the Director of Research and Development for Kemin Industries. He was president of Kemin Health, a division of Kemin Industries, until late 2009, when his health began to worsen. ?Rod was a true pioneer in the fight against blindness caused by AMD,?? Chris Nelson, Kemin Industries president and CEO, said in a statement.? ?A founding father of Kemin Health, his leadership and guidance led Kemin Health to become a preeminent supplier of lutein worldwide. Millions of people have benefited from his work and his legacy will be remembered by many.?* Andrea Schumann Staff Writer