Researches with Age Related Eye Disease Study have found that giving supplement of antioxidant and zinc has shown good result in delaying the progress of intermediated age related macular degeneration. Into some extend the supplement can reduce the risk of vision loss. It is still in preliminary screening and examining process, hence some patients with some advance disease circumstance may not benefit from it. But the fundamental key to get better result from this treatment is by having dilated eye exam for the patients. In such observation their retina status can be analyzed and treat with the right dose of supplement taking.
In the study, individuals from age 55 to 80 years with signs of age related macular degeneration were evaluated randomly. All have an average of 6 years of having signs of age related macular degeneration. All individuals were taken either zinc (80 milligram), added with copper to prevent copper deficiency. A combination of antioxidant of 500 mg vitamin C, 15 mg carotene, 400 IU vitamin E and, copper and zinc are given.
The participants were separated into four classes based on preexisting eye preconditions and degeneration present before the study. It is divided roughly corresponding to their risk of age-related macular degeneration progression. In every 6 months those individuals are examined for retinal changes indicating age-related macular degeneration progression. The participants in each group were randomly assigned to receive one of the combination of daily supplements.
Later on after about 6 years of examination, people with no age-related macular degeneration or early stages or having a few small or medium sized drusen in one or both eyes and no vision loss—showed no gain from taking the supplement. Just some participants with medium diseases whom having many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen in one or both eye, gain effect from taking supplements. The combination of antioxidant and zinc has shown cut down the run a risk of developing advanced disease by 24 percent and the risk of central vision loss by 20 percent. However, taking zinc alone without the combination of antioxidants reduced the risk of advanced disease by about 20 percent, and the risk of vision loss by about 10 percent. Taking only antioxidants without those minerals has shown a significant reduced the risk of advanced disease by about 18 percent and the risk of vision loss by about 12 percent. Individuals who taken placebo demonstrated a statistical substantial step-down of 29 percent reduced risk for the development of advanced age related macular degeneration compare with antioxidants plus zinc.
Those research unfortunately are not showing any effect for individuals who have cataract development. Even giving high dose combination of vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene had no effect on stopping or reducing the risk of already developed age related cataract disease. More details on the issue can be found in National Eye Institute website: http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd.
In an accompanying editorial related to this research, on of the specialist from Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University, Chicago, notes that in the arising trend to prevent or ameliorate medical conditions and the aging process, many patients “attack” by taking various supplements. He states that because the cause of age related macular degeneration is unsure, it’s difficult to decide what ingredients or composition of supplements might be useful.
The result demonstrate an impressive efficaciousness of the treatments for intermediate and advanced age related macular degeneration. While this is something to cheer on, this results are contrasts with the disappointing results to date of giving similar supplementation for the prevention of stroke, cancer, and heart-cardiovascular disease.”
