| linical trial called the Age-Related Eye Disease | | | | alone. There was also a cataract portion of the |
| Study sponsored by the National Eye Institute | | | | study in which researchers found that the same |
| found that high levels of antioxidants and zinc | | | | nutrients had no significant effect on the |
| significantly reduce the risk of advanced | | | | development or progression of age-related |
| age-related macular degeneration. Advanced | | | | cataract. |
| age-related macular degeneration is a leading | | | | Taking large doses of antioxidant vitamins or zinc |
| cause of vision loss. The study involved 4,757 | | | | may not be appropriate for all people with |
| participants, 55-80 years of age in 11 clinical | | | | intermediate age-related macular degeneration |
| centers nationwide. | | | | disease because of medical reasons. For example, |
| People at high risk of developing advanced stages | | | | if you are a smoker, beta-carotene has been |
| of AMD received a high-dose combination of | | | | shown to increase the risk of lung cancer. These |
| vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc. | | | | groups of people will need to discuss with their |
| It was an exciting discovery for people at high | | | | primary care doctor the best combination of |
| risk for developing advanced AMD. These | | | | nutrients for them. It is also necessary to add |
| nutrients are the first discovered for effective | | | | appropriate amounts of copper to the diet when |
| treatment to slow the progression of the disease. | | | | using high levels of zinc to prevent copper |
| Treatment for advanced age-related macular | | | | deficiency. |
| degeneration is very limited. | | | | The participants reported minor side effects from |
| The nutrients studied delay the progression to | | | | the treatments which included: |
| “advanced” age-related macular | | | | • Urinary tract problems that required |
| degeneration in people who are at high risk, those | | | | hospitalization |
| with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or | | | | • Anemia at a slightly higher rate, |
| those with advanced AMD in one eye already. | | | | however, testing of all patients for anemia |
| AMD is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness | | | | showed no difference among treatment groups. |
| in Americans 65 years of age and older. | | | | • Yellowing of the skin is a well-known |
| The nutrients will not cure AMD or restore vision | | | | side effect of large doses of beta-carotene; this |
| already lost from the disease. They will play an | | | | was reported slightly more often by participants |
| important role in helping people at high risk to not | | | | taking antioxidants. |
| develop “advanced” AMD and | | | | The AREDS study is the first to demonstrate an |
| keep their vision. | | | | adequate treatment for people at high risk for |
| Drusen is a common feature of age-related | | | | developing advanced age-related macular |
| macular degeneration. Drusen are yellow deposits | | | | degeneration disease. The formula will help to |
| under the retina found often in people over age | | | | save the vision of many who otherwise would |
| 60. A lot of people will have drusen during an eye | | | | have serious vision loss. |
| exam in which the pupils are dilated. Drusen alone | | | | Source: The National Eye Institute, which is part |
| does not cause vision loss. It is the increase in the | | | | of the National Institutes of Health and is the |
| drusen size and/or number that increases a | | | | Federal government’s lead agency for |
| person’s risk of developing advanced | | | | vision research. |
| age-related macular degeneration. Age-related | | | | Disclaimer: These statements have not been |
| macular degeneration can cause serious vision loss. | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| Studies previously suggested people who have | | | | The information in this article is not intended to |
| diets rich in green, leafy vegetables have a lower | | | | diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All |
| risk of developing age-related macular | | | | health concerns should be addressed by a qualified |
| degeneration. The high levels of nutrients that | | | | health care professional. |
| were evaluated in the Age-Related Eye Disease | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource |
| Study are extremely difficult to achieve from diet | | | | box. |