The double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized study, published in the journal Optometry (2004, vol 75, issue 4), found that either the dietary supplementation of lutein alone and lutein with additional antioxidants, reversed symptoms of ARMD. Researchers at the North Chicago VA Medical Center administered 10 milligrams of lutein, a lutein 10 milligrams/antioxidants/vitamins/minerals supplementation formula, or a placebo (maltodextrin), to 3 groups of 90 patients with atrophic ARMD, for one year.
At the end of the study, researchers found that supplementation with lutein, or lutein with other antioxidants, significantly improved visual function in comparison with the placebo group. The measured findings in patients taking lutein or lutein with other antioxidants revealed significant improvement in holes in their vision as well as in other distortions of their central vision. Though these findings are promising, the authors state that, "further studies are needed with more patients, of both genders, and for longer periods of time to assess long-term effects of lutein or lutein together with a broad spectrum of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in the treatment of atrophic age-related macular degeneration."
Posted by Kristopher Foster on January 26, 2006 09:45 PM
