MACULAR DEGENERATION

LUTEIN

1. Daily administrating of lutein (6 mg/day for 40 days) increased optical density in family members of those with macular degeneration and therefore treatment may be of value to those with macular degeneration.

Ophthalmologe. 2002 Apr;99(4):270-5.  

[Objective determination of optical density of xanthophyll after supplementation of lutein]

[Article in German]

Schweitzer D, Lang GE, Beuermann B, Remsch H, Hammer M, Thamm E, Spraul CW, Lang GK.

VITAMIN B3/NIACIN
Animal Study

2. Administration of nicotinamide (1000 or 100 mg per kilogram body weight) respectively, either completely or partially suppressed photoreceptor cell death in rats with induced retina damage.

Exp Eye Res. 2002 Mar;74(3):383-92. 
Nicotinamide prevents N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced photoreceptor cell apoptosis in Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL mice.
Kiuchi K, Yoshizawa K, Shikata N, Matsumura M, Tsubura A.
PMID: 12014919

VITAMIN C/ASCORBIC ACID

3. A daily dose of vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), beta-carotene (15 mg) and zinc oxide (80 mg) over 6 years, significantly reduced the risk of developing age related macular degeneration in aging adults.

Arch Ophthalmol.  2001 Oct;119(10):1417-36. 
Comment in:
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct;119(10):1533-4.
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Jan;120(1):100-1.
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Jul;120(7):997; author reply 997-9.
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Nov;120(11):1602.
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Mar;121(3):416-7.
    J Fam Pract. 2002 Feb;51(2):105.
    JAMA. 2001 Nov 21;286(19):2466-8.
A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8.
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group.
PMID: 11594942