Vitamin Therapy
Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)
In 2001, the National Eye Institute completed a 10-year clinical study to evaluate the effects of a high-potency antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplement on age-related macular degeneration.
RESULTS OF THE AREDS STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS
The large-scale study showed that patients at high risk of developing advanced AMD reduced that risk by 25 percent by taking the complete formulation of antioxidants and zinc. For this same group, the risk of vision loss itself was reduced by 19 percent. Those at high risk include people with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes or those with advanced AMD in one eye already.
Side effects. Only a few possible side effects from taking the study medications were found. People who took antioxidants reported change in skin color two to three percent more often than people who did not take antioxidants. Also, people who took zinc were hospitalized two to three percent more often for genitourinary symptoms.
Recommendations
- If you are at high risk of developing advanced AMD, you should consider taking supplements like those used in AREDS. High-risk people have either intermediate AMD in one or both eyes (many medium-sized drusen or large drusen), or advanced AMD in one eye only (dry or wet type).
Supplements provide no apparent benefit for those with early AMD or no AMD, and there is no apparent need to take them. However, yearly eye examinations are advisable to determine if the disease is progressing.
- Your eye doctor can tell you if you have the high-risk level of AMD by performing an eye examination of your retinas through dilated pupils.
- Because the AREDS formulation has a high level of antioxidants and zinc, discuss the advisability of taking them with your eye doctor and/or primary care physician. This is especially important for individuals with chronic diseases for which they may be taking several medications.
- Bausch & Lomb, the company that prepared the study formulation, markets the supplement under the name PreserVision. It is available over-the-counter in pharmacies and other stores that sell dietary supplements. Bausch & Lomb is phasing out its original tablet version and replacing it with two new soft gel products, PreserVision AREDS and PreserVision Soft Gels Lutein Formula.
PreserVision AREDS delivers the same levels of vitamins and minerals as the original four-tablet-a-day formula but in a two-per day format. PreserVision Soft Gels Lutein Formula, also with the two-per day dosage, contains the eye nutrient lutein, which replaces the beta-carotene in the original PreserVision formula. Smokers are advised to use this formula because other studies have found that beta-carotene may increase the risk of other health problems in smokers.
As an alternative, the ingredients can be purchased separately. The individual supplements and the amount to be taken daily are:
- Vitamin C – 500 milligrams
- Vitamin E – 400 International Units (IU)
- Beta-carotene – 15 milligrams (25,000 IU) – not recommended for smokers
- Zinc – 80 milligrams and Copper – 2 milligrams (must be included when taking zinc)
- Lutein (optional) – 10 milligrams
Vitamin E. A study published in January 2005 reported that high doses of vitamin E may be a health concern. However, after careful study and interpretation of the data, NEI researchers have concluded that taking the recommended 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E each day as part of the AREDS formulation does not pose a significant health danger for persons at risk for advanced AMD.
More information on AMD and dietary supplements is available on the Internet at the National Eye Institute web site:
http://www.nei.nih.gov
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