Vitamins Help Prevent Vision Loss from AMD---If Used Correctly

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Public release date: 2-Jun-2008

Contact: Gallagher

jgallagher@...

American Academy of Ophthalmology

Update on vitamins and AMD

Research highlights from the June 2008 issue of Ophthalmology

Vitamins Help Prevent Vision Loss from AMD---If Used Correctly

A study of individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD),

based at the Wilmer Eye Institute, s Hopkins University School of

Medicine, found that nearly 40 percent of those likely to benefit from

specific vitamin/mineral supplements were either not taking the

supplements or not using the recommended dosage. The study also showed

that some patients used high-dose supplements even in the absence of

evidence that these would be effective for their levels of AMD or other

eye conditions. The ophthalmic researchers, led by B. Bressler,

M.D., concluded that AMD patients appear to lack a clear understanding

of supplement use in AMD treatment, and that “improved patient education

may be vital to maximize the potential” of this therapy.

The public health impact could be substantial: in the United States if

the appropriate patients used the correct supplements, about 300,000

people could potentially avoid advanced AMD within a five year period.

At least eight million Americans are at risk for advanced AMD which can

destroy the central vision needed to recognize faces, read, drive and

enjoy daily life. In 2001 the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

reported findings on its clinical trial that identified a specific

formula of antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene) and

zinc that reduced the probability of progression to advanced AMD by 25

percent— either the “wet” or central geographic atrophy forms---among

individuals at risk. Those who have AMD and smoke may need to use a

formula that omits beta-carotene since high doses of this micronutrient

have been associated with increased rates of lung cancer and mortality.

Though effective treatment for advanced AMD is available, it can be

expensive and is limited to the “wet” form. Also, since such treatment

may not restore vision already lost to the illness, it remains important

to use all effective approaches to preventing AMD progression.

The Wilmer Institute-based study surveyed 332 individuals who identified

themselves as having AMD; the median participant age was 79 years. Of

these, 228 were considered candidates for benefit from the AREDS

formula, but only 140 patients (61 percent) in this group were using the

correct formula as recommended. Nearly 50 percent of the

candidates-for-benefit did not correctly answer questions on the

relevance of vitamin/mineral supplements to their eye condition and how

their vision might benefit. But patients who indicated that they

partially or fully understood the rationale for supplements were about

twice as likely to be using the AREDS formula correctly.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

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