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Because carotenoids can compete with each other for absorpon in the body, beta‐carotene may have masked the effect of the lutein and zeaxanthin in the overall analysis, Chew said. Indeed, parcipants who took all three nutrients had lower levels of lutein Normal Vision and zeaxanthin in their blood compared to parcipants who took lutein and zeaxanthin without beta‐carotene.

Removing beta‐carotene from the AREDS formulaon did not curb the formulaon’s protecve effect against developing advanced AMD, an important finding because several studies have linked taking high doses of beta‐carotene with a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers. Although smokers were not given a formulaon with beta‐carotene in AREDS2, the study showed an associaon between beta‐carotene and risk of lung cancer among former smokers. About half of AREDS2 parcipants were former smokers. "Removing beta‐carotene simplifies things," said Wai T. Wong, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the NEI Neuron‐Glia Interacons in Renal Disease Unit and a co‐author of the report. "We have idenfied a formulaon that should be good for everyone regardless of smoking status," he said. Adding omega‐3 fay acids or lowering zinc to the AREDS formulaon also had no effect on AMD progression.

More than 4,000 people, ages 50 to 85 years, who were at risk for advanced AMD parcipated in AREDS2 at 82 clinical sites across the country. Eye care professionals assess risk of developing advanced AMD in part by looking for yellow deposits called drusen in the rena. The appearance of small drusen is a normal part of aging, but the presence of larger drusen indicates AMD and a risk of associated vision loss. Over me, the rena begins to break down in areas where large drusen are present during a process called The same scene as viewed by a person with geographic atrophy. AMD can also spur the growth of new age‐related macular degeneraon blood vessels beneath the rena, which can leak blood and fluid, resulng in sudden vision loss. These two forms of AMD are oen referred to as dry AMD and wet AMD respecvely.

In a separate study, published online today in JAMA Ophthalmology, the AREDS2 Research Group evaluated the effect of the various AREDS formulas on cataract, a common condion caused by clouding of the eye’s lens. Globally, cataract is the most common cause of blindness and is a major health problem in areas where cataract surgery is unavailable or unaffordable. About 24.4 million Americans are directly affected by cataract. The original AREDS formulaon from 2001 does not protect against cataract. In AREDS2, none of the modified formulaons helped reduce the risk of progression to cataract surgery, although a subgroup of parcipants with low dietary lutein and zeaxanthin gained some protecon. While a healthy diet promotes good eye health and general well‐being, based on overall AREDS2 data, regular high doses of anoxidant supplements do not prevent cataract.

Many factors contribute to the development of AMD and cataract, including genecs, diet, and smoking. Sciensts are unsure how supplements in the AREDS formulaon exert their protecve effects. However, an April 2013 report in the journal Ophthalmology by the AREDS Research Group shows the beneficial effects of taking the AREDS vitamins are long‐lasng. The report describes a follow‐up study of AREDS parcipants. Those who took the AREDS formulaon during the inial five ‐year trial were 25 to 30 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD—mostly due to a reducon in the number of neovascular, or wet, AMD cases—over the next five years, compared with parcipants who took placebo during AREDS. Seventy percent of all parcipants were taking the original AREDS formula by the end of the follow‐up period.

"Long‐term use of AREDS supplements appears safe and protecve against advanced AMD," said Chew. "While zinc is an important component of the AREDS formulaon, based on evidence from AREDS2 it is unclear how much zinc is necessary. Omega‐3 fay acids and beta‐carotene clearly do not reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD; however, adding lutein and zeaxanthin in place of beta‐carotene may further improve the formulaon."

The AREDS2 study results provide physicians and paents with new informaon about prevenng vision loss from AMD. The NEI notes that people over 60 years old should get a dilated eye exam at least once a year and should discuss with their eye care professional whether taking AREDS supplements is appropriate.

References:  AREDS2 Research Group. "Lutein/Zeaxanthin and Omega‐3 Fay Acids for Age‐Related Macular Degeneraon. The Age‐Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA, published online May 5, 2013.  AREDS2 Research Group. "Lutein/Zeaxanthin for the Treatment of Age‐Related Cataract." JAMA Ophthalmology, published online May 5, 2013.  Chew et al. "Long‐Term Effects of Vitamins C, E, Beta‐Carotene and Zinc on Age‐Related Macular Degeneraon." Ophthalmology, published online April 11, 2013.

The Naonal Eye Instute, part of the Naonal Instutes of Health, leads the federal government's research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs that result in the development of sight‐saving treatments. For more informaon, visit hp:// www.nei.nih.gov.

About the Naonal Instutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the naon's medical research agency, includes 27 Instutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducng and supporng basic, clinical, and translaonal medical research, and is invesgang the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more informaon about NIH and its programs, visit hp:// www.nih.gov. How is AMD diagnosed and what are its stages? What are lutein and zeaxanthin? Lutein and zeaxanthin, along with AMD diagnosis and staging depend largely on changes within beta‐carotene, belong to a family the eye that can only be seen during an eye exam. These may of organic pigments known as carotenoids. Carotenoids are include pigmentary changes in the rena and the presence of especially enriched in green leafy drusen, which are yellow deposits under the rena that contain vegetables. They can be stored in cholesterol and cellular debris. animal ssues and are found at Most people develop some very small drusen as a normal part relavely low levels in animal of aging. Researchers and clinicians generally recognize three food products. Beta‐carotene is an orange pigment. In the body, stages of AMD. it is used to make Vitamin A, 1. Early AMD is characterized by the development of medium‐ which is required by the rena to sized drusen about 63‐125 microns across, close to the width detect light and convert it into of an average human hair. Early AMD does not cause vision electrical signals. Lutein and loss. zeaxanthin are yellow pigments which are also found in the 2. Intermediate AMD is characterized by large drusen (bigger human rena and lens, where than 125 microns) along with pigmentary changes in the they may act as natural rena. Intermediate AMD usually causes lile or no vision anoxidants and help absorb loss. damaging, high‐energy blue and 3. In addion to drusen, advanced AMD is characterized by ultraviolet light. either: What are omega‐3 fay acids?  A gradual breakdown of the central renal area, called dry Omega‐3 fay acids are made by AMD or geographic atrophy marine algae and are enriched in  Abnormal and fragile blood vessels under the rena that fish oils; they are believed to be can leak blood and damage the rena, called wet or responsible for the health neovascular AMD. benefits associated with regularly eang fish, including lower rates There are treatments to slow vision loss from neovascular AMD, of cardiovascular disease. The including drugs that inhibit a protein called vascular endothelial AREDS2 study focused on the growth factor (VEGF). When injected into the eye, these drugs omega‐3 fay acids DHA and its can reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels. precursor EPA. DHA is needed for the integrity of renal cells, and As reported in 2001, the AREDS formulaƟon does not benefit has been shown to promote people who have early AMD, or no AMD. It can slow the renal development and repair in progression of intermediate AMD to advanced AMD. prior studies.