Macular Degeneration Nutritional Supplements


Macular degeneration nutritional supplements have been well researched showing that they can impact the prevention and progression of age related macular degeneration.



Vitamin for Eyes

There are many vitamin for eyes and choosing one can be very confusing. With my husband's strong family history of macular degeneration, I knew that taking some kind of eye supplement would be a good idea.

Fully intending to buy some kind of eye vitamin, I would go to the drug store, stand in front of all the different vitamin bottles and get so overwhelmed and confused that I'd walk out of the store without having bought anything.

So how do you know which ones to take to prevent macular degeneration or to slow the progression of this retinal disease?

What are Supplements?

Supplementing with vitamins, antioxidants and macular degeneration nutritional supplements has become necessary because of the changes in farming practices such as soil depletion, early harvesting, genetically modified plants, and storage.

However, it is not a means to justify an unhealthy diet or to give one an excuse to eat junk food. Natural food sources provide the best nutrients for the body to use and to absorb.

Considering that research shows macular degeneration prevention and progression can be influenced by eye vitamins, it is worth checking out.

AREDS Vitamins

You may be wondering if AREDS vitamins help to prevent macular degeneration. AREDS vitamins are the macular degeneration nutritional supplements that were used in the landmark study called the Age Related Eye Disease Study.

According to the U.S. Federal government's National Eye Institute the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 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."

The study results did not show any benefit to those who have not been diagnosed with macular degeneration or are in the very early stages of AMD.

AREDS 2

The Age Related Eye Disease Study 2 is currently going on. It is not yet completed so as of yet there are no study results to report. However, in anticipation of positive study results some eye vitamin companies have developed macular degeneration nutritional supplements based on this study's formula. AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins

Benefits of Fish Oil Supplements

You probably never realized that fish oil is one of the most beneficial macular degeneration nutritional supplements. Fish oil health benefits are well documented and supported by many different studies. The heart, skin, brain and the eye are just some of the organs and systems that benefit from fish oil.

Researchers from Australia and Singapore published a study entitled, "Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Fish Intake in the Primary Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis."

This meta-analysis consisted of a mathematical evaluation of the results from nine previous studies of nearly 89,000 people, of which more than 3000 developed macular degeneration.

The authors found that high dietary intake of fish oils was associated with a 38% reduction in the risk of late macular degeneration. To learn more about the benefits of fish oil supplements click here: Fish Oil Health Benefits

Bilberry Supplements

The benefits of bilberry supplements comes from the compounds called anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides are plant pigments that provide antioxidant protection. Antioxidants act as scavengers who de-activate free radicals that are known to play a role in the development of diseases like cancer or macular degeneration.

According to Dr. Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac., optometrist and licensed acupuncturist, "Bilberry improves circulation in the blood vessels of the eye, helps maintain the integrity of capillaries, stabilizes collagen, and stimulates the production of rhodopsin essential for night vision."

To learn more about bilberry supplements click here: Bilberry Supplements

Lutein Supplements

Lutein supplements may be something you want to consider if you are at risk for developing macular degeneration or if you have been diagnosed with age related macular degeneration (AMD).

It has been shown in several studies that levels of lutein can be increased in the eye when taking a lutein supplement, but blood levels drop as soon as the supplement is not being taken.

Lutein supplements are being studied in the AREDS 2. Here is one of their stated objectives:

"Study the effects of high supplemental doses of the dietary lutein (10 mg)and zeaxanthin (2 mg) and omega-3 (DHA and EPA) on the development of advanced AMD."

To learn more click here: Lutein Supplements

Zeaxanthin Supplements

Normally you will find zeaxanthin supplements along with lutein. According to the Journal of Nutrition, 2003 supplementing with both of these macular degeneration nutritional supplements, raise macular pigment density and serum concentrations in humans. These supplements come from a marigold flower extraction.

One of the objectives of AREDS 2 is to:

"Study the effects of high supplemental doses of the dietary lutein (10 mg)and zeaxanthin (2 mg) and omega-3 (DHA and EPA) on the development of advanced AMD."

To learn more click here: Zeaxanthin Supplement

Natural Vitamin Supplement

All natural vitamins are a good source of nutrients that do not contain any fillers or synthetic compounds that can actually harm the body.

Supplementing with all natural vitamins/minerals that are standardized and absorbed by the body is a common sense approach to keeping our body's healthy.

Vitamins and minerals give the body what it needs to repair and regenerate itself. To learn more about all natural vitamin supplements and how they differ from synthetic vitamins click here: Natural Vitamin Supplement

Vitamins for Eyes

Eye supplements for general eye health address the needs of those with vision floaters, cataracts, dry eyes or blurred vision.

To learn more about vitamins for eyes click here: Vitamins for Eyes

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