VITAMIN THERAPY FOR EYE HEALTH
This is a simplified update to help you understand the current thinking of nutrition and eye health.
History: In the 1990’s an eye doctor in Chicago reported that his age related macular degeneration patients who were put on a spinach rich diet seemed to do better than his ARMD patients not on a spinach rich diet. He was scorned for publishing his empirical observations without any scientific backing. The Age Related Eye Disease Study was then planned with the hypothesis that vitamin uptake would have no benefit to eye health. AREDS included 3,640 patients over 6.3 years and revealed that anti-oxidant vitamins were in fact beneficial to reducing the risk of onset and the rate of progression of ARMD. Lutein was later found to increase macular pigment density.
The AREDS I vitamin study formula included:
- Vitamin C – 500 mg
- Vitamin E – 400 IU
- Beta Carotene – 15 mg
- Zinc – 80 mg
- Copper – 2 mg
The AREDS II (ISYS T2) formula was modified to:
- Vitamin C – 150 mg
- Vitamin E – 200 IU (d-alpha Topopherol)
- Vitamin D3 – 420 IU
- Vitamin A – 220 IU
- Zinc – 10 mg (80 mg is toxic to retina and kidney)
- Copper (*HVP Chelate) – 0.5 mg (to help absorb zinc)
- Selenium (*HVP Chelate) – 10 mcg (reduces zinc and copper toxicity)
- Lutein – 10 mg
- Zeaxanthin – 5 mg
- NO Beta Carotene (reduces absorption of Lutein and Zeaxanthin)
- *Contains Cod Liver Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Lechithin, Bees Wax)
Super anti-oxidants (ISYS Advanced) are with AREDS II plus:
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids – EPA, DHA, ALA
- Vitamin B 12 (a polyphenol to help absorb vitamin C)
- Brewers Yeast - 350 mg (a polyphenol to help absorb vitamin C)
- Grape Seed Extract – 50 mg (with the 2 above increases glucose tolerance factor and beta glucan 1-4 to relieve dry eye and converts to glucothiane which increases L-ascorbate – a strong anti-oxidant)
AREDS II recommends:
1 tablet per day after age 50
2 tablets per day after age 70
A cost study at a local drug store revealed that most manufacturers charge about $0.25 per tablet.
Our clinic recommends Isys Ocular Essentials Vitamins … link to www.isysmsi.com
Taking vitamin therapy does not prevent or cure ARMD. Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of onset of ARMD and to reduce the rate of progression of ARMD. Current medical protocol is to recommend vitamin therapy for all persons over the age of 70 and anyone with risk factors for ARMD including a significant family history and persons with light pigment features.