Johns Hopkins Endorses Vitamin E for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Washington DC, 23 January 2004
Source: Foods for the Future

Supplementation containing Vitamin E "provides an exciting preventive measure" for age-related macular degeneration, a professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University has concluded after taking part in a major ongoing research effort.

"There are no other proven options for early intervention," Dr. Susan Bressler says in the coming February edition of the Johns Hopkins medical letter, Health After 50.

Vitamin E intake of 400 milligrams, together with Vitamin C, beta carotene, and small amounts of zinc and copper oxides, reduces the likelihood of disease progression by 25 percent in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, the research has determined.

"Supplementation with this formulation also reduced the risk of vision loss by 19 percent over five years in these patients," the Johns Hopkins publication reported.

Until now, there has been no proven treatment to slow the progression of disease and possible vision loss in people with dry AMD, the most common form of the condition, Dr. Bressler said.

Major clinical trials of the Vitamin E and other supplementation started two years ago, and a follow-up report was published recently in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers concluded in the report that "if every American with intermediate AMD took these vitamins and minerals, more than 300,000 people could avoid AMD-associated vision loss over the next five years."

More than 1.6 million Americans over age 60 have age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in the US.

Source

Foods for the Future.