Micronutrient Supplementation Slows Geographic Atrophy Progression
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, July 19, 2024 -- Oral micronutrient supplementation slows geographic atrophy (GA) progression in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online July 16 in Ophthalmology.
Tiarnan D.L. Keenan, B.M., B.Ch., Ph.D., from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues examined whether oral supplements slow GA progression in AMD in a post-hoc analysis of the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study (AREDS) and AREDS2 multicenter, randomized trials. A total of 392 eyes from 318 participants with GA were included in AREDS, and 1,210 eyes from 891 participants with GA were included in AREDS2. AREDS participants were randomly allocated to oral antioxidants; zinc (80 mg); combination; or placebo. AREDS2 participants were randomly assigned to lutein/zeaxanthin; docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid; combination; or placebo. AREDS2 participants were also randomly assigned to alternative AREDS formulations: original, no β-carotene, zinc (25 mg), or both.
The researchers found that proximity-based progression toward the central macula was significantly slower in AREDS eyes with noncentral GA with randomization to antioxidants versus none (50.7 versus 72.9 µm/year). In AREDS2 eyes with noncentral GA, proximity-based progression was significantly slower with randomization to lutein/zeaxanthin versus none among those assigned to AREDS antioxidants without β-carotene (80.1 versus 114.4 µm/year). Area-based progression was not significantly different with randomization to antioxidants versus none in AREDS2 eyes with any GA.
"We've known for a long time that AREDS2 supplements help slow the progression from intermediate to late AMD. Our analysis shows that taking AREDS2 supplements can also slow disease progression in people with late dry AMD," Keenan said in a statement. "These findings support the continued use of AREDS2 supplements by people with late dry AMD."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2024
Read this next
Parent-Reported Firearm Storage Poor Estimator of Teen Perceived Access
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Parent-reported firearm storage seems to be a poor estimator of teen perceived firearm access, according to a study published online June 10 in JAMA...
CT Colonography Cost-Effective, Clinically Effective for CRC Screening
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Computed tomography colonography (CTC) is cost-effective and clinically effective for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, according to a study published...
Global Incidence Rate of Rheumatoid Arthritis Increased From 1990 to 2021
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- The incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased globally from 1990 to 2021, with the heaviest burden born by regions with a high...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.