Page 117
The Willner Window Product Reference Catalog, Spring 2014
since 1911
• Willner Chemists •
the nutritional supplement professionals
Trace Minerals
high risk of developing advanced
stages of AMD, a leading cause of
vision loss, lowered their risk by
about 25 percent when treated with
a high-dose combination of vitamin
C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and
zinc. In the same high risk group —
which includes people with interme-
diate AMD, or advanced AMD in
one eye but not the other eye — the
nutrients reduced the risk of vision
loss caused by advanced AMD by
about 19 percent. The clinical trial
— called the Age-Related Eye
Disease Study (AREDS) — was
sponsored by the National Eye
Institute (NEI), one of the Federal
government’s National Institutes of
Health.”
Now, before we talk specifically
about nutritional supplements and
age-related macular degeneration, I
want to focus on a common mistake
most people make. When a study
such as this is published, and a par-
ticular combination of nutrients, at a
certain dosage level, results in a
positive outcome, the tendency is to
run out and purchase a product that
duplicates that regimen. The think-
ing is that this must be the optimal
combination, the optimal dose, etc.
That is not necessarily true.
In most studies of this type, the
researchers did not compare differ-
ent formulations and dosages to
determine which combination
and/or dosage was optimal. Instead,
they sat down beforehand and
decided what to use. Sometimes that
decision is based upon the fact that
a certain product is being provided
to them. Oftentimes, the decision is
based on previous research.
Sometimes it merely a “best guess.”
Rarely, if ever, should you conclude
that the formula used is necessarily
the best, because that type of com-
parison is not usually part of the
study.
In the case of this AREDS study,
the antioxidant formulation con-
tained a combination of vitamin C,
vitamin E, and beta-carotene. The
specific daily amounts of antioxi-
dants and zinc used by the AREDS
researchers were 500 milligrams of
vitamin C; 400 international units of
vitamin E; 15 milligrams of beta-
carotene; 80 milligrams of zinc as
zinc oxide; and two milligrams of
copper as cupric oxide. How did
they come up with this combina-
tion? “In the study’s planning
stages, a panel of nutritionists, oph-
thalmologists, and biochemists
reviewed the basic science and epi-
demiological data and recommend-
ed these vitamins and dosages.”
So when the results were pub-
lished, everybody ran out to buy
formulations that mimicked this
exact formula. And this might be a
big mistake.
For one thing, in the actual study,
they divided the participants into
four groups. One group received the
antioxidants alone (i.e. no zinc).
Their risk of AMD was reduced by
17 percent, and risk of vision loss
reduced by 10 percent. Another
group received zinc alone (i.e. no
antioxidants). Their risk of AMD
was reduced by 21 percent and risk
of vision loss reduced by 11 percent.
The third group received a combina-
tion of antioxidants plus zinc. Their
risk of AMD was reduced by 25 per-
cent and risk of vision loss reduced
by about 19 percent. A fourth group
received a placebo.
What, then, is the proper conclu-
sion? Do we look at this and run out
to purchase a mixture of Vitamin C
500mg, Vitamin E 400IU, beta-
carotene 15 mg, zinc 80 mg, and
copper 2 mg? Many people do. Or
do we say, “Wow! Antioxidant vita-
mins and minerals do indeed seem
to have a profound effect on pre-
venting AMD. Since I’m at risk, I
certainly should make sure I am tak-
ing ample amounts of these nutri-
ents as part of my supplement regi-
men.”
Do we look at this “AREDS” for-
mula, and ask whether it would be
better if we took natural vitamine E
rather than the synthetic version
they used? Even better, should we
take a natural mixed tocopherol
vitamin E. If the AREDS formula
lists “dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate,”
that is synthetic vitamin E.
Do we look at this “AREDS” for-
mula and ask whether it would be
better if we took natural beta-
carotene rather than synthetic beta-
carotene? Even better, would there
be even more benefit if there was
some actual vitamin A in the formu-
la, rather than just beta carotene?
Do we look at this “AREDS” for-
mula and ask whether it would be
better if we took chelated zinc and
copper rather than the oxide?
Do we look at this “AREDS” for-
. . . continued from page 115
The Best Supplements For Your Health:
Chapter 2: How to Choose The Right
Supplement
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