We have been telling patients at risk for Macular Degeneration to take megadoses of certain vitamins, but it turns out more research is saying to limit Vitamin A (beta-carotene). Dr. James Folk, M.D. in his blog about Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) says:
A recent study from Australia showed that dietary lutein and zeaxanthin reduced the risk of the development of AMD long-term.(2) The same study showed that a high intake of beta-carotene was associated with an increased risk of AMD…
…I would recommend an AREDS supplement with lutein especially and also zeaxanthine if you can get it. The doses used in AREDS II are 10 mg lutein and 2mg zeaxanthine. Don’t take beta-carotene if you’re a smoker since it increases the risk of lung cancer. I would also limit or eliminate the amount of beta-carotene supplements even if you’re not a smoker.Just eat your vegetables.
So everyone just needs to have a healthy diet with green, leafy vegetables (like spinach) and those at risk for AMD should use eye vitamins with C, E, zinc, copper, and lutein with zeaxanthine instead of Vitamine A. Oh, and if you smoke, quit. Carrots are good for you, but megadoses of its vitamin A are not.
The next time someone makes a comment about eating carrots to help their eyes, I’ll hope you will correct them by informing them that it’s really spinach that helps the most. Popeye had it right after all. The only other thing besides eating spinach that he should have done to protect his one good eye would be to wear polycarbonate glasses full time.
