The Dose Of Vitamin E In The Areds Formulation Is Higher Than The Recommended Dietary Allowance Is This Safe
The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin E for adults over 14 years old is 22.4 IU but it is not the maximum dose. Rather, it is the dose that nutrition experts have decided is sufficient for most people to remain healthy. The AREDS formula contains 400 IU to provide vitamin E beyond usual dietary intake.
The AREDS and AREDS2 trials found no adverse effects of 400 IU/day vitamin E. Other studies of adults taking more than 1,500 IU/day from natural vitamin E and 1,100 IU/day for synthetic vitamin E observed increased risk of bleeding, including brain bleeds. Most studies of vitamin E supplementation below these levels have shown beneficial or no effects on heart disease.
However, vitamin E can interact with some medications, including blood thinners, chemotherapeutic agents, and lipid-lowering drugs. NEI recommends consulting with a health care provider before taking vitamin E or other nutritional supplements.
For more information, please see the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements page on vitamin E.
Made By Life Extension:
Life Extension began in 1980 and is still going 40 years later. In 2021 ConsumerLab.com voted Life Extension as #1 Rated Catalog/Internet Merchant. According to ReviewMeta.com, Life Extensions average adjusted rating of 4.1/5 from 24,224 verified reviews.
- Taste / Absorbability = Fruit punch flavor
- Labeled Effect = Help eyes shield and filter blue light
- Food Allergens = None, very safe
- Pros = Great blend of high quality ingredients
- Cons = While women can take this supplement as well, the marketing is more for guys
About Alive! Teen Complete Multi For Him:
Alive! Teen Complete Multi For Him is an option for teenage boys who are looking for a vitamin supplement that will help them protect their eyes from blue light.
The supplement provides 17 vitamins and minerals, including a full B-vitamin complex.
It also includes Lutermax 2020 to help filter blue light from sun, LED, and digital devices.
The supplement is non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free, and has a fruit punch flavor.
Lutein Zeaxanthin & Meso
A recent study comparing three different lutein and zeaxanthin formulas found each significantly increased macular pigmentation in men and women with early age-related macular degeneration. Get the details, including dosage, and our tests of popular lutein and zeaxanthin products, in the Vision Supplements Review »
Clinical Update
3/23/2019
You May Like: How Much Vitamin C Is In One Orange
What To Look For
One study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, discovered that some manufacturers, claiming that their vitamins promoted eye health, were selling vitamins that were lacking in the nutrients that were advertised on the product label.
Because the vitamin and natural supplement industry is not tightly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , the burden of ensuring that supplements are pure and effective is on the consumer.
For this reason, its important to double check to ensure that you are purchasing a product that has AREDS 2 Formula on the label. You may want to take an extra step to be sure you are getting the right nutrient level, by comparing the labels ingredients to those on the AREDS 2 Formula list.
Sometimes the label says a product has half of the dosage . This is because the recommended daily dosage is 2 soft gel capsules .
Made By Nordic Naturals:
Founded in 1995 in California, with an emphasis on sustainable fishing and high quality natural ingredients. According to ReviewMeta.com, Nordic Naturals receives a 4.4/5 average adjusted rating from 12,469 verified reviews.
- Labeled Effect = Support the density and quality of macular pigment
- Food Allergens = Very safe, none
- Pros = High quality dose of Lutein and Zeaxanthin
- Cons = no other vitamins and minerals
About Lutein / Zeaxanthin:
This supplement is for people who want just the basic, most important nutrients for their eye health.
Generally speaking, lutein and zeaxanthin are the two most basic ingredients for eye health, so this supplement is for those who just want these vitamins without any other ingredients.
Read Also: What Is Vitamin D Milk
What Else Should I Consider
Speaking of genetic testing, theres one more really big thing to know about when supplementing vitamins for the health of our eyes. About 15% of people who take the AREDS 2 formula of vitamins for macular degeneration are sensitive to zinc. This means that the high levels of zinc in this recommended formula are harmful to our eyes.
ArcticDX tests for this specific gene. It was a quick cheek swab, and it gave me a lot of useful information. I found out that I am, in fact, in that 15%… So, I shouldnt take the AREDS 2 formula. I take lutein and zeaxanthin in a different formula instead. My hair test also flagged a reaction to zinc, which I thought was really interesting.
Are There Are Risks To Taking Supplements
Although nutritional supplements are generally regarded as safe, they may have harmful effects in certain people.
If you are thinking about taking a supplement for AMD, it would be important to discuss this with your GP, as taking larger amounts of vitamins and minerals than those found in an everyday diet may not be suitable for you, depending on other medications or supplements you may be taking.
If you are a smoker or have ever smoked in the past, its important to make sure any supplement you take does not contain beta-carotene. This is because there is evidence that beta-carotene increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers and ex-smokers. The recommended AREDS2 supplement does not contain beta-carotene.
Additionally, an optometrist or ophthalmologist can advise if taking a supplement for AMD is the right option for you based on the stage your AMD is at.
Don’t Miss: Is Vitamin D The Same As Calcium
A Word Of Caution On Supplements
You should always consult with medical professionals before making major changes to your diet, including starting to take supplements.
Overconsumption of some vitamins can cause toxicity, and certain health conditions may be negatively affected by certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Excess levels of vitamin A can result in blurred vision, dry skin and headaches.
Vitamin E toxicity can cause poor absorption of nutrients, increased bleeding and problems with your gallbladder and liver.
What Are The Symptoms Of Macular Degeneration
Symptoms of Macular Degeneration usually include blurred vision with a dim or blurry spot in the middle of your vision.
The spot will continue to get bigger over time. It is more common in older adults over the age of 60. Your ophthalmologist will instruct you to check your vision every day and let them know if you notice any changes in your vision.
Don’t Miss: How Often Can I Take Vitamin C
There Are Many Supplements On The Market For People With Amd Which One Is The Best
Unfortunately, we cannot recommend that someone should take a supplement for AMD, or which one they should take.
There are several brands of supplements marketed as containing the AREDS2 formula. If you are considering taking a supplement for AMD, you should choose the ones marked as containing the AREDS2 formula, as these conform to the best evidence currently available.
If you are not sure if a brand of supplement contains the AREDS2 formula, your GP or a pharmacist should be able to check this for you.
Best Budget Eye Vitamin Supplement: Puritan Pride Lutigold
Puritan Pride is a renowned name in the health and wellness industry since 1973. The company says that they source ingredients from 106 countries and follow standards in choosing and manufacturing its vitamins, which have been laid down by the FDA.
Lutigold is one of the over 1000 products offered by Puritan Pride and is one of the most cost-effective eye vitamin supplements containing a high lutein dosage.
About Puritan Pride Lutigold
Lutein is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals in our eyes and restores their natural health. Along with containing a high dosage of lutein, the product also has zeaxanthin, another ingredient beneficial for the eyes.
These scientifically-formulated supplements come in the form of soft gel pills, are made in the USA, and are tested for purity, potency, and consistency.
These eye vitamin soft gels have no artificial colors, flavor, sweeteners, sugar, soy, milk, starch, lactose, sodium, wheat, fish, yeast, gluten, and preservatives.
What it Contains:
Each dose of Puritan Pride Lutigold contains:
- Lutigold lutein 40 mg
- Zeaxanthin 1600 mcg
Other ingredients include Safflower Oil, Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin, and Yellow Beeswax.
Each bottle of Lutigold contains 120 easy to swallow gel-based pills. According to the dosage guidelines, it is recommended to take each dose of one pill every day with a meal.
The Pros:
- Easy to swallow soft gels
- Lactose, gluten, and sugar-free
- No artificial sweetener or preservatives
Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Give You Energy
Vitamin Supplements For Amd Based Off Areds2 Study
The results of the AREDS study were published in 2001, and in the over 20 years since then, science has found additional nutrients that can help support retinal health and slow down AMD progression. In fact, a second AREDS study, AREDS2, launched in 2006 to see if adding omega-3 fatty acids or lutein and zeaxanthin into the formula would show improvement.4
AREDS2 study included4
- 82 clinical sites across the U.S.
Participants included those who had intermediate AMD in both eyes or intermediate AMD in one eye and advanced AMD in the other. This study did not include those with early or no AMD because AREDS showed that the formulation had no benefit to those individuals.
AREDS2 results showed that the beta-carotene, an original nutrient in the AREDS formula, increased the risk for lung cancer in those individuals who were former smokers. Thankfully, removing this nutrient from the AREDS formula resulted in no significant changes.
The substitute for beta-carotene in the AREDS 2 Maculr Degeneration formula is lutein and zeaxanthin, which resulted in an increase in benefit.
Naturelo Eye Health Vitamins
Inside each bottle of these Naturelo Eye Health Vitamins, youll find 60 tablets, enough for a one month supply. The tablets are free from GMOs, additives and preservatives. They are also vegetarian and vegan-friendly. These supplements are an ideal choice for people of all ages. The capsules contain a combination of eye-friendly minerals, vitamins, herbs, phyto-nutrients and omega-3s. Furthermore, this natural supplement works to alleviate dry eyes and visual fatigue while delivering sharp and clear vision. Many of the ingredients included in the capsules have been clinically proven to benefit the health and function of your eyes.
Recommended Reading: Will Prenatal Vitamins Help Get Pregnant
How Does My Eye Specialist Know If Macular Degeneration Vitamins Are Necessary
There are various factors to consider. It depends on how severe your macular degeneration is, after the eye specialist has completed the examination. Also important is what you normally eat in other words, your baseline nutrition. Other factors include your life expectancy and your financial resources.
There are many characteristics of AMD, as described in the previous blogs in this series. These include drusen, retinal pigment epithelial changes, geographic atrophy , and neovascular membrane formation. After your eye examination, your ophthalmologist will consider how well you fit into the categories determined by the AREDS trials.
Clearly, not every patient with AMD fits neatly into a category of the AREDS trials. One point to consider is that the AREDS trials were conducted in the United States of America, where a standard diet may well be different to that of Australia. We tend to eat more home-cooked meals here, and are perhaps, as a country, more health conscious. We also have fresh fruit and vegetables readily available at reasonable prices.
Certainly, a healthy diet with plenty of green vegetables and oily fish will be good for eye health, but there is limited evidence to indicate that a good diet alone can supply all the ingredients specified by AREDS.
Top 10 Best Doctor Recommended Macular Degeneration Vitamin Supplement In 2022
Are you looking for the Doctor Recommended Macular Degeneration Vitamin Supplement? You might find it difficult to determine which products are best to buy. This confusion occurs due to the different types of products that are present in the market.
No need to worry because we are here to help you find the Doctor Recommended Macular Degeneration Vitamin Supplement After hours of research, we have put together a list of products that can be just what you need. We have also included a buying guide and answered some questions to clear any doubts you may have.
Here is our Top 10 Recommendations!
You May Like: Best Hair Growth Vitamins For Black Hair
The Updated Areds2 Forumula
Based on the AREDS2 trial, the recommended supplement formulation was changed to2:
- 500 mg of vitamin C
- 400 IU of vitamin E
- 80 mg zinc as zinc oxide
- 2 mg copper as cupric oxide
- 2 mg zeaxanthin
It is also recommended to add omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA and EPA. DHA is necessary for the health of retinal cells and helps promote retinal development and repair.2
You May Like: How Many Vitamins C Should I Take A Day
Absorption And Bioavailability Of Nutrients And Antioxidants
Bioavailability is defined as the proportion of any ingested substance or nutrient that absorbed and entered the circulation system for normal physiological functions . It differs from bioaccessibility, which is the quantity of the ingested nutrient that is available for absorption . It is useful to be able to predict the bioavailability of a specific nutrient asnutrient or antioxidant absorption is closely related to the bioavailability of the specific nutrient or antioxidant. A nutrient that is highly bioavailable has a high absorption rate.
Many factors affect nutrient and antioxidant absorption such as stress, alcohol consumption, caffeine and drug intakes, and exercise. Absorption of nutrients and antioxidants is also dependent on the therapeutic doses. As reported in the literature, the increased amount of antioxidant intake reduced the absorption efficiency of antioxidants. For example, the absorption efficiency of lycopene was higher during the low dose intake than the high dose intake . Another study also showed that an equal dose of zeaxanthin had a lower absorption than lutein . In addition, heat stress could reduce nutrient absorption, thus reducing the absorption efficiency .
Also Check: Are Nature Made Vitamins Good For You
Additional Nutrients For Amd
There are additional nutrients beyond those in the AREDS2 formula that are beneficial to vision health and slowing the progression of macular degeneration.2 While these nutrients are not included in AREDS formulas, they are available in vitamin supplements such as EyeSciences Macular Health Formulation to help manage AMD.
How Do You Use Vitamin A For Macular Degeneration
Vitamin A is an essential part of helping reduce the risk of macular degeneration. This means that vitamin A should be in your diet. Beta-carotene rich foods, like carrots, are an essential part of good nutrition and maintaining good vision habits.
There are several animal-based foods that are rich in vitamin A including beef liver, chicken liver, and ricotta cheese. There are also plant-based foods that are rich in vitamin A as well, like carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and spinach. You should make sure that you can include several of these listed foods in your diet.
There are several different recipes and cookbooks that are aimed at helping those with Macular Degeneration include enough vitamin A in their diets. In the cookbook, Eat Right for Your Sight, there are a total of 83 different recipes that are rich in all the nutrients that your body needs, but especially rich in vitamin A. A few examples of the recipes that can be found inside of this book include:
There is more and more research being dedicated to the findings associated with Macular Degeneration and one of those has to deal with fish. In a study conducted by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, the study concluded that fish should be another delicacy that people suffering with AMD should be adding to their dinner plates more often.
Recommended Reading: Vitamins That Help You Sleep
The Best Vitamins For Macular Degeneration
If you want to prevent AMD or start treating your existing diagnosis, macular degeneration vitamins are the way to go. Natural supplements have been extremely helpful for people with all types of diseases, diet restrictions, and lifestyles. If you cant get all the following nutrients in your diet from food, consider macular degeneration vitamins or supplements.
Buyer Beware: Look For Areds2 Formula
One NIH study found that a number of vitamins marketed for eye health did not contain the nutrient amounts stated on the label. This can occur because the supplement industry is not regulated as stringently as the prescription drug industry.
In contrast, some brands do contain the right nutrients at the right levels. For this reason, I recommend that you look closely at vitamin labels be sure the label says AREDS2 formula and check their listed vitamins against our chart, above. If you are uncertain about a specific product, ask your doctor for recommended brands that meet the AREDS2 formulation. AREDS2 products can be purchased over the counter. The dose is generally one soft gel twice a day with a meal.
Read Also: Which Vitamin Is Good For Immunity
Vitamins For Macular Degeneration
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study is a large clinical trial conducted by theNational Institutes of Health inthe United States4. This study, conducted in 2001, was designed toevaluate the effect of high-dose vitamins andminerals on the progression of age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataract.
During the study, researchers evaluated the effect of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, andbeta-carotene on AMD. The resultsseemingly showed that these nutrients can significantly reduce the risk of visionloss in people with advanced forms ofthe disease4.
Progressive Macular Degeneration Is Also A Significant Factor In Some Other Lifestyle And Medical Risks
For example, sight plays an essential part in how we regulate balance, and the onset of macular degeneration and losing central vision can impair balance. Progressive symptoms also mean progressive risks.Simply put, macular degeneration is both a real problem and a risk factor for other health problems. Getting ahead of the risks and development helps you prevent this slippery slope.
Also Check: How Should I Take Vitamin D
