Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG82/1

Question

Strategies to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD):- What is the effectiveness of antioxidant and zinc supplements on AMD disease progression for people with early AMD at high risk of progression in the context of a randomised controlled trial?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Age-related eye disease study (AREDS 2001) examined the effect of antioxidant supplementation on AMD progression using the AREDS formation, which included beta carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc. Although the study showed some beneficial effects of the combined antioxidant supplementation in a subgroup of participants, the effects of each of the formula components on AMD progression were unclear. Additionally, 1 of the ingredients (beta carotene) in the AREDS 2001 formulation is associated with a possible risk of lung cancer among smokers. The AREDS research group introduced a new formulation that excluded beta carotene in the AREDS2 study, but the effect of AREDS2 formulation on AMD disease progression is unknown because of a complicated study design involving secondary randomisation and no placebo control. Therefore, a well-conducted randomised trial would provide an evidence base for the benefits and risks of individual components of the antioxidant supplements, and provide the ability to establish the treatment effect of antioxidant supplementation (the AREDS2 formula) on AMD progression by comparing AREDS2 formula with no treatment (for instance normal diet).

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Age-related macular degeneration

Number

NG82

Date issued

January 2018

Other details