AREDS2

Nearly 100 centers working on an NIH study on the effects of antioxidants and fish oil on progression of age-related macular degeneration seek 4,000 people ages 50 to 85 with AMD to participate, according to an Oct. 12 announcement. The National Eye Institute, which says nearly 2 mil. people in the U.S. suffer from vision loss due to advanced AMD and 7 mil. with AMD are at "substantial risk," expects the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) to build upon results from the first AREDS data released in 2001 (1"The Tan Sheet" Oct. 15, 2001, p. 3). Those results showed high-dose antioxidant vitamins and minerals (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper) reduced the risk of progression to advanced AMD by 25%, and the risk of moderate vision loss by 19%. Results of a separate study published this year showed higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids could have prevented an estimated 22% of the cases of AMD (2"The Tan Sheet" July 17, 2006, p 9). DSM will supply the supplements for AREDS2...

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