Carotenoids and antioxidants improve central retina function in age-related macular degeneration patients, according to results of a 27-patient study published in the February issue of Ophthalmology.

Vincenzo Parisi, head of research at G.B. Bietti Foundation for the Study and Research in Ophthalmology in Rome, et al., conducted a 12-month randomized controlled trial in Italy of patients with non-advanced AMD and "visual acuity greater than or equal to 0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution."

The patients were randomly divided into two groups, with 15 receiving daily oral supplementation of vitamin C 180 mg, vitamin E 30 mg, zinc 22.5 mg, copper 1 mg, lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 1 mg and astaxanthin 4 mg. The other group received no dietary supplementation during the same period.

In the eyes of supplementation patients, the researchers found an increase in multifocal electroretinogram recording responses from the central retina. No changes were found in the bioelectrical responses in the other retinal areas.

Parisi et al. write that they saw improvement after six months, but the additional six months of treatment did not enhance improvement.

The researchers point out normal concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin seem "to have a protective role against the development of AMD."

"In fact, these pigments prevent the light-induced damage, shielding the retina from the harmful effects of blue light, and, by quenching reactive oxygen species, reduce the oxidative injury," they say.

However, Parisi et al. caution that with a small number of patients, their study should be considered a pilot and their findings must be compared to data from a larger population and with long-term follow-up.

"For the same reason, even if we did not observe any side effects in treated patients, no final conclusions could be drawn regarding safety," they say.

The latest follow-up to a larger study, the U.S. National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Diseases Study, continues to show beneficial effects of antioxidants and zinc as therapy for AMD, the study director said in January (¹ Also see "Antioxidants Continue To Show Benefits In AREDS Follow-Up" - Pink Sheet, 21 January, 2008., p. 14).

- Rebekah Moan

Carotenoids, Anitoxidants Improve Treatment For AMD – Study

More from Archive

More from Pink Sheet