Lutein + Zeaxanthin along with Vitamins C and E and the mineral Zinc preserve vision in sick eyes
July
03,
2009
Researchers from the Queen’s University Centre of Vision and
Vascular Science and the Waterford Institute of Technology reported
that a supplement containing high amounts of the carotenoids Lutein and
Zeaxanthin in addition to the antioxidant nutrients zinc and vitamins C
and E, helped preserve macular pigments in patients with age related
macular degeneration (AMD), retarding the progression of early to late
stage disease. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss
among older individuals.
433 subjects with early stage macular degeneration received
the nutritional supplement or a placebo. The subjects, whose average
age was 77 upon enrollment, were followed from October, 2004 to March,
2008. While participants who received the placebo experienced a steady
decline in protective macular pigments, these pigments were preserved
in those who received Lutein and Zeaxanthin. The researchers state that
“Late AMD causes severe sight loss and has a huge economic impact both
in terms of the effects of sight loss itself and in terms of the
expensive treatments that are needed to deal with the condition.”
“These findings are important because this is the first randomized
controlled clinical trial to document a beneficial effect through
improved function and maintained macular pigments” they note. The
research is available on the Queen’s University Centre of Vision and
Vascular Science website.