Supplements May Be a Boost to Older Eyes

Source: Tufts University
December 6, 2001 (Reviewed: December 4, 2003)

Is failing eyesight an inevitable part of getting older? Maybe not, say scientists who have found a combination of nutrients that seems to slow eye damage due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision loss among seniors.

Taking a closer look

Researchers from 11 U.S. health facilities recruited about 3600 men and women aged 55 to 80. About 29% had mild or borderline AMD; 45% showed moderate signs of AMD; and 26% had advanced AMD in at least one eye. All participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: antioxidant vitamins (500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg beta-carotene); 80 mg zinc; antioxidant vitamins plus zinc; and placebo (sugar pill). Participants' eyes were photographed several times during the 6-year study to document the progression of AMD.

Nutrients made a difference

The researchers found that those who took antioxidants plus zinc were about 28% less likely to develop further AMD when compared with those who did not receive treatment. The supplements did not appear to have a sizeable effect on those who started the study with mild or borderline AMD; the results were most pronounced in those with more advanced cases of the disease.

The message to seniors

AMD results from the breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula, an area in the back of the eye. There are limited treatment options once the disease has developed, which is why the scientists who conducted this study are understandably excited about their findings. But they'd like both consumers and physicians to keep some things in mind as they react to this news:

• Researchers are not yet sure what causes AMD - it might be due to a malfunction in the part of the eye that processes light, or in the pigment cells that color the retina. It might also result from a circulation problem. What part environmental factors - like light and pollution - play in the development of AMD is also unclear. Until they know what causes it, they won't know definitively how best to treat it.
• The people in this study most likely to benefit from supplements were those who already had AMD. The researchers do not know if antioxidants and zinc can prevent AMD; this study only showed that supplements slowed the progression of the disease in those who already had it.
• The amounts of nutrients consumed in this study are much higher than current recommended intake levels. The authors of the study point out that they don't know the effects of the long-term use large doses of these nutrients - in particular, zinc. They also note that extra beta-carotene may not be beneficial to people who smoke.
• They recommend that individuals check with their physicians to see if these supplements would benefit them, and not to self-diagnose or treat themselves without first seeking medical advice.

Source

• 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  Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group, Arch Ophthalmol., 2001, vol. 119, pp. 1417--1436

Related Links
Age-Related Macular Degeneration, National Eye Institute
To cut your risks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 'go fish'!
Antioxidants may keep eyes healthy
Low-Fat Diet May Help Protect Eye Health
HealthandAge Hearing and Vision Center
To quickly access additional accurate information on this and other nutrition-related topics, visit Tufts University's Nutrition Navigator

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