The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was conducted on a double-masked,
placebo-controlled group consisting of 3,609 people ages 55
to 80, to demonstrate the effectiveness of a high-potency
vitamin and mineral supplement on the preservation of eye
health and vision. Its findings proved that
high-potency supplement of antioxidant vitamins and zinc can
slow the progression of moderate to advanced age-related
macular degeneration (AMD)
and its associated vision loss. AREDS found that when taking a supplement, those most at risk
for developing advanced AMD significantly decreased that
risk by about 25% and also reduced the risk of vision loss
caused by advanced AMD, by about 19%.
In the Veterans LAST Study 2004 (Lutein
Antioxidant Supplementation Trial) 90 patients with atrophic
age-related macular degeneration were randomized in a double-masked,
placebo-controlled intervention and followed for 12 months. Patients
in Group 1 received lutein 10 mg (L); in Group 2, a lutein 10
mg/antioxidants/vitamins and minerals broad spectrum supplementation
formula (L/A); and in Group 3, a placebo (P.) RESULTS: In Groups 1 L and 2 L/A, mean eye macular pigment optical
density increased approximately 0.09 log units from baseline, Snellen
equivalent visual acuity improved 5.4 letters for Group 1 L and 3.5
letters for Group 2 L/A, and contrast sensitivity improved. There was
a net subjective improvement in Amsler grid in Group 1 L VFQ-14
questionnaires concerning subjective glare recovery were nearly
significant at 4 months for Group 2 L/A. Patients who received the
placebo (Group 3) had no significant changes in any of the measured
findings. CONCLUSION: In this study, visual function is improved with
lutein alone or lutein together with other nutrients.