Age-Related Eye Disease Study

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study ( AREDS ) - the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study - is a clinical study, which was funded by the U.S. National Eye Institute, to learn about the risk factors, natural history, and prognosis of age-related macular degeneration ( AMD) and cataracts to get. Among other things, the effect of high-dose antioxidant (vitamin C, E, beta -carotene ), and zinc has been studied. The study took part in a total of 4757 persons aged 55-80 years; the average observation time was 6.3 years.

Results

The administration of high-dose antioxidants and zinc reduces the likelihood of progression of AMD ( emergence of a Neovaskularisationmembran ) by 25 % and reduces the likelihood of vision loss by 19%. The development of cataract was not affected. Accordingly, the NEI recommends the risk of AMD patients, the administration of so-called AREDS formulation (500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta- carotene, 80 mg of zinc as zinc oxide, and 2 mg of copper as copper oxide ) " to be considered ." Smokers and former smokers should keep in mind that beta -carotene her risk of developing lung cancer, probably increased.

A retrospective evaluation found that a higher proportion of lutein and omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids in the diet, a significant inverse correlation with the development of an intermediate or advanced AMD. To verify these findings, the AREDS II study was conducted from 2006 to 2012. The study examined whether additional administration of high-dose omega -3 (EPA / DHA 650/350 mg) and lutein / zeaxanthin (10/ 2 mg), the probability of the emergence or progression of AMD changed. The results of the multicenter study with 4203 participants have been published in May 2013. Thus, the additional administration of carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids to the AREDS formulation lowers not the AMD risk of disease progression, but could lutein / zeaxanthin a suitable replacement for β -carotene for ( and former ) to be smokers.