Antioxidant Vitamins Can Protect Eyes Better Than Carrots,

June 10, 2003

Antioxidant Vitamins Can Protect Eyes Better Than Carrots, Harvard Says; Vitamin

E Cited

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Antioxidant vitamins such as

Vitamin E may protect the eyes against cataracts and age-related macular

degeneration, according to a new special health report from Harvard Medical

School.

There's some truth to the belief that " eating carrots is good for the eyes, " the

Harvard publication said, but noted that diets containing more antioxidant

vitamins such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C " are even better. "

The Harvard Health Letter said in its May issue that a recent government study

finding that Vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals may slow progression of

macular degeneration " was a success. "

The study, called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study or AREDS, was conducted by

the National Institutes of Health. Doses used in the trial were 400

international units of Vitamin E, 500 milligrams of Vitamin C, 15 milligrams of

beta carotene, 80 milligrams of zinc, and two milligrams of copper.

The Harvard Health Letter pointed out, however, that the positive results were

in people who already had moderate to serious macular degeneration, and that the

vitamin-mineral combination hasn't been shown to help " people who had no macular

degeneration or only a mild case. " The Harvard publication recommended that

patients don't take vitamins and minerals for the condition until " an

ophthalmologist has examined your eyes and determined that you're a high-risk

patient. "

More than a quarter of Americans aged 75 or older show some signs of macular

degeneration, the Harvard Health Letter said. Severe vision loss can result,

" although no one goes totally blind from macular degeneration. "

Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

To , e-mail to: Gettingwell-

Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell

Free online calendar with sync to Outlook.

Recommended Posts