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What Is the Best Vitamin for Macular Degeneration?

According to the National Eye Institute, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys central vision. The affliction affects the macula, which allows a person to see in sharp detail.

  1. Types

    • There are two types of macular degeneration, including wet and dry. Each is brought on by different causes.

    Significance

    • In October 2001, the National Eye Institute (NEI) released the results of its Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which concluded that antioxidant vitamins and zinc "significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration and its associated vision loss."

    Identification

    • In its press release, the NEI asserted that high doses of vitamin C and E, as well as beta-carotene and zinc, can reduce the risk of vision loss due to macular degeneration by 25 percent.

    Other Nutrients

    • According to the Natural Health Research Institute, lutein and zeaxanthin have also been shown to decrease the risk of AMD by up to 35 percent.

    Considerations

    • Ultimately, it is a combination of vitamins and nutrients that can reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration later in life. An AREDS formula is now available in pharmacies and other retail outlets.

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