Areds2 finds benefit in luteinzeaxanthin

Findings from the Age-Related Eye disease Study 2 (AREDS2) indicate that the current AREDS formulation is sound and the addition of lutein/zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AAMD) in populations with low dietary intakes of lutein/zeaxanthin. The 4,203 AREDS2 participants were randomised to receive lutein/zeaxanthin (10 mg/2 mg), DHA/EPA (350 mg/650 mg as ethyl esters), lutein/zeaxanthin and DHA/EPA, or placebo. All participants were also asked to take the original AREDS formulation or a secondary randomisation to 4 variations of the AREDS formulation, including elimination of beta-carotene, lowering of zinc dose, or both. Those who took a supplement containing lutein/zeaxanthin had a 10% reduction in the risk of progression to AAMD, and those with the lowest dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin had a 26% reduction.