VisiVite® Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins have Higher Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Antioxidants than the AREDS 2 clinical trial

In 2001, researchers at NIH's National Eye Institute compiled the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) testing whether a nutritional supplement called the AREDS formulation could reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While only 2% of 50–60-year-old have AMD, the disease prevalence rises exponentially with increasing age such that over 30% of individuals over age 75 exhibit some form of AMD. The original AREDS formulation contained vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper.

In 2006, the same group began a second study called AREDS2 to determine if they could improve the AREDS formulation. They tested adding the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, adding omega-3 fatty acids, removing beta-carotene and lowering the dose of zinc. Because carotenoids can compete for absorption in the body, beta-carotene may have masked the effect of the lutein and zeaxanthin in the AREDS 1 study analysis.

The primary objective of the second study was accomplished by collecting data on 4,000 AREDS 2 volunteers aged 50 to 85 years, who at the time of the study had bilateral large drusen or large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the other eye. The AREDS 2 formula was reported at that time to the standard of care to reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration.

A press release from the NIH's National Eye Institute based on the AREDS 2 study results concluded that “adding omega-3 fatty acids did not improve a combination of nutritional supplements commonly recommended for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss among older Americans. The plant-derived antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin also had no overall effect on AMD when added to the combination; however, they were safer than the related antioxidant beta-carotene. . .”

Why are the VisiVite® Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins Better for You?
The VisiVite Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins further improved the AREDS 2 2006 formula by providing higher Lutein, Zeaxanthin and antioxidant content than the AREDS 2 clinical trial formula. Why? Because science-based eye research doesn’t stand still. VisiVite AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins added Selenium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grape seed and Bilberry extracts.

Previous overlooked studies have shown that low levels of two key antioxidant enzymes – glutathione reductase and peroxidase activity are seen in persons with age-related macular degeneration. (1) VisiVite® Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins provides Selenium that raises glutathione peroxidase levels in the eye. VisiVite Premium AREDS 2 also provides Glutathione needed to make glutathione reductase.

• Exceeds the National Eye Institute's AREDS 2 Formula
• Contains 50% more Lutein than AREDS 2
• 134% more Zeaxanthin than AREDS 2
• Premium Antioxidant Formula includes:
  200 mcg Selenium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Bilberry extract, Glutathione

The VisiVite® Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins contains Alpha Lipoic Acid, a potent fat and water-soluble antioxidant found in the eye where these levels decline with age.

VisiVite® Premium AREDS 2 Eye Vitamins provides Bilberry extract, a rich source of anthocyanins which help protect against sunlight photo-oxidation in retinyl cells. (2)
 
References:

1.Cohen, SM, Olin, KL, Feuer, WJ, et al. Low glutathione reductase and peroxidase activity in age-related macular degeneration. Br J Opthalmol. 1994 Oct; 78(10): 791–794.

2. Jang YP, Zhou J, Nakanishi K & Sparrow JR (2005): Anthocyanins protect against A2E photo‐oxidation and membrane permeabilization in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Photochem Photobiol 81: 529–536.

3. Antioxidant Supplements in The Prevention and Management of Cataracts and Macular Degeneration Of The Eye Convincing Proof That Antioxidant Supplementation Prevents Macular Degeneration Written by Dr. James Meschino, D.C., M.S., -- Research and Clinical Director, RenaiSanté Institute of Integrative Medicine.