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Study: supplementation has no effect on AMD

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SAN DIEGO – Supplementation with lutein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper has no effect on visual function and fundus appearance in age-related macular degeneration patients, according to a study presented here Friday at the American Academy of Optometry meeting.

The study, presented by Hannah Bartlett, OD, examined 46 subjects between the ages of 22 and 73, in the normal cohort, and 30 patients, aged 55 to 82, in the AMD cohort. The study looked at outcome measures of distance visual acuity (DVA), near visual acuity (NVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS).

Other outcome measures were photostress recovery time as assessed by the Eger Macular Stressometer (EMS), central visual function measured by the Macular Mapping Test (MMT) and fundus photography.

The study found no difference in any of the outcome measures between placebo patients and those taking a formulation of 6 mg lutein, 750 mg vitamin A, 250 mg vitamin C, 34 mg vitamin E, 10 mg zinc and 0.5 mg copper for 9 or 18 months. These findings applied to both the normal and AMD groups. The study concluded that the use of the formulation was not beneficial to visual function in AMD suffers or normal patients. “Our findings are not consistent with AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) or LAST (Lutein Antioxidant Supplement Trial),” Dr. Bartlett said. “But we can’t compare these findings with AREDS or LAST, for many reasons.”