|
June 15, 2004 |
| Vision Health
Antioxidants for AMD and Cataracts Antioxidants work to neutralize the effect of free radicals and help ward off (or at least slow) many age-related conditions. They do this by protecting your cells from damage and general wear and tear. Since your eyes are as susceptible to aging as your other organs, it stands to reason that taking antioxidants can protect your eyesight. Studies have shown that two eye diseases, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, have responded particularly well to antioxidant supplementation. In October 2001, researchers unveiled the results of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), a ten-year study conducted at eleven different medical centers across the country. After testing 3,640 men and women aged 55 to 80, researchers found that those patients who took daily antioxidant supplements (500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin A, and 25,000 IU of beta-carotene) had a 17 percent lower risk for developing AMD. Similarly, patients who took zinc supplements (80 mg as zinc oxide with 2 mg of copper as cupric oxide) had a 21 percent lower risk for developing AMD, while those patients who took both the antioxidants and zinc had a 25 percent lower risk for developing advanced AMD. A similar study published in the October 1999 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology supports these findings. Researchers from France tested over 2,500 patients to determine if the use of antioxidants could provide protection against macular degeneration. They found that the participants who consumed the greatest amount of vitamin E reduced their risk for advanced AMD by an incredible 82 percent. According to the November 2000 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, long-term antioxidant use may also reduce your risk of cataracts. Researchers interviewed more than 3,000 adults aged 43 to 86. They found that those participants who took a multinutrient containing vitamins C or E for more than a decade had a 60 percent lower risk of developing cataracts than those who didn’t take the multi, regardless of other risk factors. Researchers hypothesized that the antioxidant properties of certain vitamins and minerals may help to retard cataract development. To prevent the formation of AMD and cataracts, I recommend taking a good, daily multinutrient containing zinc (10 mg) and selenium (50 mg), as well as the antioxidants beta-carotene (25,000 IU), vitamin E (400 mg), and vitamin C (at least 500 mg).
Read More on Vision: Getting Started Age-Related Macular Degeneration Nutritional Therapies Lutein and Zeaxanthin for Age-related Macular Degeneration Antioxidants for AMD and Cataracts Complementary Therapies Red Light Therapy for Macular Degeneration Ozone Therapy for Macular Degeneration
|
|
home | contact
us | disclaimer| privacy policy | terms and conditions | press room
|
