in your bodies natural antioxidant defense mechanisms. Most multivitamins contain an adequate amount of these two minerals. Dosages of 200mcg of selenium and 50mg of zinc daily are plenty. You will often find copper in multivitamin products containing zinc. This is due to the fact that the absorption of copper is reduced as your intake of zinc increases.
. .. Perhaps the best use of these supplements is to take them in combination. This essentially was what they used during the famous Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). This large study tested the effects of the above mentioned
supplements on age related macular |
degeneration (ARMD) and cataracts. There have been many reports published about this study; to date there have been 22 separate AREDS reports. The results were very promising; patients who took the AREDS antioxidant and zinc supplements reduced their risk of developing advanced ARMD by 25%. They also reduced their risk of developing vision loss by about 19%. There was no effect on the development or progression of cataracts.
. .. There are also plans for a second AREDS study named AREDS2. In this study they will determine if lutein/zeaxanthin or the essential fatty acids DHA/EPA can help prevent the |
progession of cataracts and ARMD. The dosages used will be lutein/zeaxanthin (10mg/2mg) and DHA/EPA 350mg/650mg). The fatty acids DHA/EPA can be found in fish oil supplements  especially salmon oil. This study is due to start in the near future.
Thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3), and riboflavin (vitamin B2) are also helpful for eye health. Again dietary studies
Ian Lloyd...Continued On Page 6 |
