The National Eye Institute created a supplement formula that contains vitamins and minerals specifically for age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease. The formula developed from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, also called the AREDS formula, provides potent nutrients that may delay the onset of eye diseases and prevent further degeneration. The NEI recognizes that you cannot get all the vitamins and minerals you need for macular degeneration through food sources or your daily multivitamin. If you decide to start the recommended formula or start taking any new vitamin supplement, talk to your doctor first.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene plays an important role in eye health. It provides about 50 percent of the vitamin A, called "the eye vitamin," in the diet. Life Extension Magazine published an article in December 2010, which says the current Dietary Recommended Intake for beta-carotene is 2 to 4 mg a day, but experts believe that isn't enough to meet the needs of adults, let alone to prevent age-related diseases. The NEI recommends 15 mg of beta-carotene a day, which the AREDS formula provides.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that prevent the premature aging and oxidation of eye cells. The AREDS formula for macular degeneration contains 500 mg vitamin C and 400 International Units of Vitamin E. This is eight times the DRI for vitamin C, and 26 times the DRI for vitamin E, for healthy adults. By comparison, a daily multivitamin might provide only 60 mg vitamin C and 30 International Units of vitamin E. This is why a daily multivitamin cannot supple the necessary vitamins needed for macular degeneration.
Minerals
The AREDS Formula contains 80 mg zinc. Zinc significantly improves advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration, but it works much better when combined with antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E. This is why the AREDS formula contains zinc and antioxidants combined, to make the zinc work better. Sometimes, zinc supplements cause a copper deficiency in some people. For this reason, the formula contains 2 mg copper to prevent that occurrence.
Warnings
Even though the NEI recommends this formula for macular degeneration, talk to your doctor about starting this formula. Some vitamin supplements may interfere with other medications you are taking. You may have drug interactions or other side effects. Talk with your health care provider about macular degeneration. She may include this formula in your treatment plan.
References
- National Eye Institute: The AREDS Formulation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Life Extension Magazine: Experts Emphasize That Beta-Carotene is Indispensable as a Safe Source of Vitamin A
- Centrum: Product Labeling
- Institute of Medicine: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes, Vitamins (PDF)
- "Archives of Ophthalmology"; 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; October 2001
