Age Related Eye Disease Study

Method

The age related eye disease study (AREDS) was a major 10 years study sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI) which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the U.S. government’s lead agency for vision research. The study was conducted at 11 major medical research centers across the nation and completed in October, 2001.
This study researched the effects of zinc and antioxidants on certain eye conditions, including AMD. It involved 4757 participants in the age range 55-80 years. Each Participant was given one of four treatments:

• Zinc alone
• Antioxidants alone
• Combination zinc and antioxidants
• Placebo

Conclusion

The AREDS clearly answered a number of important questions regarding the role antioxidants plus zinc in maintaining ocular health. Key finding of the AREDS include:

• Participants diagnosed with advanced cases of AMD were able to slow the progression of the disease by about 25%, when treated with a high dose combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and zinc.
• Certain participants taking antioxidant plus zinc supplements were able to reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD by about 25%, while also reducing the risk of vision loss by approximately 19%
• While it was concluded that the nutrients are not a cure for AMD, the study showed that the nutrients are effective in helping slow the progression of the disease.

References

For more details on AREDS results. Visit the National Eye Institute’s web site at www.nei.nih.go