While there have been lots of studies showing that people who consume vitamins C and E can reduce their age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risks, a new study challenges those findings, according to The Doctor’s Channel.
The article cited William G. Christen, lead researcher of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as informing Reuters Health that no single study can provide a definitive answer as to whether vitamins C and E can lessen risks associated with AMD. This, of course, goes against recent studies that have indicated that there is a link between these vitamins and AMD.
According to Christen in the article, findings do not provide any clear-cut evidence that vitamins E and C can safeguard people from the eye ailment that can lead to blindness, despite what some may believe.
The article referred to a report, which was published in Ophthalmology, that is one component of an ongoing study focusing on 14,000+ male doctors in the U.S. who were at least 50 years old. According to the article, the male doctors were randomly asked to take either a placebo pill or vitamin E every other day, as well as either vitamin C or a placebo each day. The other group of male doctors were required to either consume both vitamins, only a single vitamin or none of them at all.
After an eight-year period, 193 of the men came down with AMD that had advanced to the point where it adversely impacted their vision, according to the article. The article noted that the risk was almost statistically equal among those who took the placebos and those who took the vitamins.
Reflecting on the results up to this point, the research team noted that vitamins C and E do not appear to have a tangible impact on altering the risk of early AMD, according to the article.
But the researchers added that their study group was composed of people who were regarded as “well-nourished,” which means that findings might be different among a study group made up of people who are not getting the right amount of vitamins in their diet.
Reference: http://www.thedoctorschannel.com/view/vitamins-e-c-no-help-against-macular-degeneration/
