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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Antioxidant Vitamin and Mineral Supplements to Slow Down the Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Cochrane Collaborative

Last Reviewed: July 2017

Workgroups: Vision Workgroup

In this Cochrane systematic review, the Cochrane Collaborative found that antioxidant vitamin supplements may help slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Specifically, researchers found that: 

  • Taking antioxidant vitamins plus zinc probably slows progression to late AMD and vision loss 
  • Taking lutein alone or with zeaxanthin may have little or no effect 
  • Taking vitamin E alone may have little or no effect

Researchers noted that while vitamin supplements are generally considered safe, the studies included in the review were mostly too small to offer good evidence on safety.

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Objectives related to this resource (1)

Reduce vision loss from age-related macular degeneration — V‑07
Baseline only

Suggested Citation

1.

Evans, J. R., & Lawrenson, J. G. (2017). Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017 (7). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000254.pub4.