Intermediate AMD in both eyes
Studied in both AREDS & AREDS2: showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD over 5 years.
Notes
- Stages: In order to simplify the results of these studies, we have ‘stretched’ the stage assignments from how they were actually done in the studies. For example, in AREDS, they looked at the lead/most advanced eye & assigned the participant that stage. So someone with one eye at the intermediate stage & the other with no AMD, early AMD or intermediate AMD would be assigned the intermediate stage. AREDS2 used a slightly different method.
- Source of supplements: There are many ‘eye vitamins’ sold as AREDS or AREDS2 but they do not all have the exact ingredients that were a result of the extensive AREDS & AREDS2 research (see References section below for full study articles).
- Importance of reading the labels: The ingredients & dosages from AREDS were antioxidants 400 IUs of Vitamin E, 500 mg of Vitamin C and 15 mg beta carotene. Beta carotene was found to be linked to lung cancer in smokers so for that and other reasons, AREDS2 removed the beta carotene & used 10 mg Lutein and 2 mg Zeaxanthin. The formulations from both studies included zinc (because of zinc, copper was also included), 80 mg in AREDS and both 80 mg and 25 mg zinc in AREDS2. It was these exact ingredients that produced positive results (“showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD”) so read the labels of any products carefully to make sure they match the study formulation as closely as possible. There are 2 webpages in References below that compare selected products.
- Warning about zinc: Several years ago, warnings were issued about the high dose of zinc in the study formulations (80mg). Those warnings were confirmed by 2018 research that found that 15% of patients with a specific combination of genetic risk variants nearly tripled their risk of developing wet AMD when treated with the AREDS formulation with 80mg zinc instead of a placebo. For more information about genetic testing, see References below.
References
- AREDS article: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose Supplementation With Vitamins C and E, Beta Carotene, and Zinc for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Vision Loss
- AREDS2 article: Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Lutein/Zeaxanthin, or other Nutrient Supplementation on Cognitive Function: The AREDS2 Randomized Clinical Trial
- Awh, Zanke and Kustra (2017): Progression From No AMD to Intermediate AMD as Influenced by Antioxidant Treatment and Genetic Risk: An Analysis of Data From the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Cataract Trial
- AREDS/AREDS2 supplement sources: Eye Supplements for AMD and Where to Buy Vitamins
- Article about genetic testing with contact information: Genetic testing for AMD: first step toward personalized medicine in eye care
- AREDS 80mg zinc risk, 2018 research: CFH and ARMS2 genetic risk determines progression to neovascular age-related macular degeneration after antioxidant and zinc supplementation.