Age Related Eye Disease Study

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The Age Related Eye Disease Study was a major clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Health. Recruitment began in September 1990 and the first results were published in a press release in 2001.


AREDS Vitamins

The study involved:

√ 4,757 participants between the ages of 55 and 80 years

√ those whose macular status ranged from no evidence of age related macular degeneration (AMD) in either eye to relatively severe disease with vision loss in one eye but good vision in the fellow eye (20/30 or better)

√ being followed for 5 years

√ being given one of four treatments:

1) zinc alone

2) antioxidants alone;

3) a combination of antioxidants and zinc

4) a placebo, a harmless substance that has no medical effect.

The results stated that the AREDS "found that taking high levels of antioxidants and zinc can reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by about 25 percent." NIH News Release Friday, October 12, 2001

AREDS Formula

The nutrients in the AREDS contained:

500 milligrams of vitamin C;

400 international units of vitamin E;

15 milligrams of beta-carotene;

80 milligrams of zinc as zinc oxide; and

two milligrams of copper as cupric oxide

(Copper was added to the AREDS formulations containing zinc to prevent copper deficiency, which may be associated with high levels of zinc supplementation).

If you are interested in a GMP certified macular degeneration vitamin company that offers AREDS vitamins (that include the compounds from the AREDS study) and compares their vitamin formula to other companies click here: VisiVite Macular Degneration Vitamins.

Age Related Eye Disease Study 2 - AREDS 2

The NEI has launched the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2). There are nearly 100 clinical centers with over 4,000 study participants ages 50 - 85 who have AMD. This study is no longer recruiting new participants but it is ongoing. Enrollment concluded in June 2008 and participants will be followed between five and six years. To learn more about this macular degeneration clinical trial click here: AREDS 2



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