AREDS II is the second of two age-related eye disease studies designed to look at the effect of nutrients on eyesight. During the first study, which was completed in 2001, researchers found that antioxidants in high levels reduced the chance of blindness. Unfortunately, the formulation studied had some problems. The second study was designed to address these problems.
People with eye disease have said that it is very debilitating. This affects nearly a million people, around 90% elderly, in the United States. People can develop eye disease in several ways. Some are born blind because of defects during the pregnancy. Others go blind after injury or due to diabetes complications. The majority of people that are blind have suffered cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is an aging disease.
There are treatments available but they are limited in their effectiveness and are only good for a certain range of disease. One of these is laser surgery; this is effective in reducing the threat of blindness. However, it is also too expensive for many people and it comes with some of its own hazards. Normally the side effects are not serious, however, they are common. These include reduced night vision and loss of peripheral vision as well as a worsening of visual acuity and sometimes eye hemorrhages.
AREDS, the initial Age-Related Eye Disease Study was finished and released in 2001. This study was begun to review risk factors and history associated with cataracts and AMD. Another purpose was to analyze whether higher doses of antioxidants might affect AMD or cataracts. They looked at a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and beta-carotene.
The research team found that antioxidants in high doses could lessen the chance of blindness. For high risk individuals, such as those with AMD in one of their eyes or intermediate in both, it brought down the risk nearly 25 percent. One of the ingredients in the initial combination was beta-carotene. Later studies showed that beta-carotene increased the possibility of lung cancer in smokers. They also discovered that it had no effect on the incidence of cataracts.
The next study was finished in May 2013 and had some interesting results. One goal that they had was to discern whether an adequate substitute existed for the beta-carotene. They tried lutein and zeaxanthin and found that they were as effective as the beta-carotene. For people at high risk of advanced AMD this is an important consideration and could help lessen the possibility of developing blindness.
One caution is that many elderly people are already on prescriptions. They often use over-the-counter medications or even dietary supplements. The high-dose nutrients in the formula could interfere, or lessen effectiveness, and affect the absorption rate of other drugs.
Laser surgery has definite benefits but is expensive and can cause serious complications. An alternative may be the combination formulated by the researchers in the AREDS II study. They found that high levels of antioxidants, combined with vitamins and zinc, reduced AMD risk. They also discovered that zeaxanthin and lutein were adequate substitutes for beta-carotene, while not reducing the beneficial properties. Before you start any new medicines you should consult your physician.
People with eye disease have said that it is very debilitating. This affects nearly a million people, around 90% elderly, in the United States. People can develop eye disease in several ways. Some are born blind because of defects during the pregnancy. Others go blind after injury or due to diabetes complications. The majority of people that are blind have suffered cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is an aging disease.
There are treatments available but they are limited in their effectiveness and are only good for a certain range of disease. One of these is laser surgery; this is effective in reducing the threat of blindness. However, it is also too expensive for many people and it comes with some of its own hazards. Normally the side effects are not serious, however, they are common. These include reduced night vision and loss of peripheral vision as well as a worsening of visual acuity and sometimes eye hemorrhages.
AREDS, the initial Age-Related Eye Disease Study was finished and released in 2001. This study was begun to review risk factors and history associated with cataracts and AMD. Another purpose was to analyze whether higher doses of antioxidants might affect AMD or cataracts. They looked at a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and beta-carotene.
The research team found that antioxidants in high doses could lessen the chance of blindness. For high risk individuals, such as those with AMD in one of their eyes or intermediate in both, it brought down the risk nearly 25 percent. One of the ingredients in the initial combination was beta-carotene. Later studies showed that beta-carotene increased the possibility of lung cancer in smokers. They also discovered that it had no effect on the incidence of cataracts.
The next study was finished in May 2013 and had some interesting results. One goal that they had was to discern whether an adequate substitute existed for the beta-carotene. They tried lutein and zeaxanthin and found that they were as effective as the beta-carotene. For people at high risk of advanced AMD this is an important consideration and could help lessen the possibility of developing blindness.
One caution is that many elderly people are already on prescriptions. They often use over-the-counter medications or even dietary supplements. The high-dose nutrients in the formula could interfere, or lessen effectiveness, and affect the absorption rate of other drugs.
Laser surgery has definite benefits but is expensive and can cause serious complications. An alternative may be the combination formulated by the researchers in the AREDS II study. They found that high levels of antioxidants, combined with vitamins and zinc, reduced AMD risk. They also discovered that zeaxanthin and lutein were adequate substitutes for beta-carotene, while not reducing the beneficial properties. Before you start any new medicines you should consult your physician.
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