How to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration

The fact that certain vitamins and minerals help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is no surprise to HSI members. But a new study provides the first evidence from a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial that these nutrients may actually slow the progression of the disease.

The study, from Ireland’s Queen’s University, tested a supplement referred to in the study as the “AREDS formula” – that is, it combines nutrients used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, as well as the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

AREDS was a watershed study that tested vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and zinc on more than 3,500 subjects for an average of 6.3 years. Subjects who used a combination of all these agents reduced their risk of AMD by 25 percent.

First results from the new study show that macular pigments were well maintained in subjects taking lutein and zeaxanthin, while the pigments deteriorated in the placebo group. Previous research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin help protect retinal tissue.

This new study hasn’t concluded yet, but Queen’s University researchers presented early findings at the 2009 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Preliminary results indicate that the combination of nutrients helps slow the progression of AMD.

You can read what alternative health care pioneer Dr. William Campbell Douglass has to say about lutein in this issue of his Daily Dose e-letter.

Source:
“Antioxidant Supplement Shows Potential Against AMD” Stephen Daniells, NutraIngredients-USA, 6/24/09, nutraingredients-usa.com