Vitalux, a Canadian vitamin manufacturer, produces formulations designed to promote eye health. Vitalux AREDS contains the nutrients studied in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study funded by the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The study showed that the combination of these nutrients in high doses may help reduce macular degeneration by 25 percent. Knowing the nutrient content and additional ingredients in Vitalux will help you and your doctor determine if this formulation is appropriate for you.
Nutrients
In each caplet, Vitalux AREDS formulation contains vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, copper, lutein and zeaxanthin. Although the Age-Related Eye Disease Study did not evaluate lutein and zeaxanthin, these nutrients may offer some protection for your eyes as well. In fact, the National Eye Institute began examining these antioxidant nutrients in the AREDS2 study.
Other Ingredients
In addition to the studied nutrients, Vitalux AREDS vitamins contain ingredients that help form and preserve the capsule. These ingredients include hydrolyzed vegetable protein, microcrystalline cellulose and hypromellose. The vitamins also contain vegetable stearic acid, vegetable magnesium stearate, water, titanium dioxide and calcium silicate. You will also find hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol. For coloring, preserving and other functions, Vitalux AREDS also contains caramel color, polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, ethyl vanillin and caranauba wax.
Dosage and Formulations
The package directions for Vitalux AREDS recommend two caplets each day, taken with a meal. You should ask your doctor if you should take this dosage or if another dose would work best for you. If you smoke or recently stopped smoking, your doctor may not recommend the Vitalux AREDS formulation, since high doses of vitamin A could increase your risk for lung cancer.
Considerations
You should not begin using any supplement without first consulting your doctor. She will consider your health, lifestyle and the medications you take to help you determine what may work best for you.
If you have any symptoms of macular degeneration, including sudden vision changes, contact your eye doctor immediately. Nutrients and supplements cannot reverse macular degeneration damage, but prompt treatment could prevent further vision loss.
