The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7473 p395
13 October 2007

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Evidence does not support protective role for antioxidants in age-related eye condition

A diet rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals does not prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a systematic review conducted by researchers in Australia suggests (BMJ 9 October 2007).

The University of Melbourne researchers explain that dietary antioxidants have long been suggested as useful for preventing the development and progression of AMD but say that evidence to support their role in primary prevention is lacking.

They therefore analysed data from seven prospective observational studies, involving 149,203 people, and three randomised controlled trials.

When results were pooled, the prospective studies showed that people with relatively high dietary intakes of antioxidants (such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, Α-carotene, Β-carotene, Β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene) were no more or less likely to develop AMD than those with relatively low intakes.

Data from studies that evaluated dietary vitamin E suggested a high intake was associated with a reduced risk of AMD but the two randomised controlled trials of reasonable quality indicated that neither vitamin E nor Β-carotene supplements prevent AMD.

The researchers conclude that cigarette smoking remains the only widely accepted modifiable risk factor for the primary prevention of AMD. “Patients seeking advice on AMD prevention should be encouraged to stop smoking,” they say.