The groundbreaking Age-Related Eye Disease Studies 1 and 2 (AREDS and AREDS2) revealed the potential of nutritional supplements in reducing the risk of AMD progression. The AREDS2 formula, which substitutes beta-carotene with lutein and zeaxanthin, has become the gold standard in AMD management. However, recent research has raised concerns about the quality and compliance of many supplements bearing the "AREDS" or "AREDS2" labels.
A study published in Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology investigated the composition of supplements labeled as "AREDS" or "AREDS2" available in the online marketplace. Shockingly, the results unveiled a significant number of these products to be non-compliant with the AREDS2 clinical trials formula, which could pose risks to consumers relying on these supplements for their eye health.
Key Findings
Out of the surveyed products, a staggering 30.8% did not adhere to the AREDS2 formula. The deviations from the recommended formula varied, with 14.2% missing at least one ingredient, 13.3% containing less of at least one ingredient, 17.5% containing more of at least one ingredient, and 15.8% including at least one extra ingredient not part of the AREDS formula. Surprisingly, a small fraction (5.8%) even adhered to the outdated AREDS1 formula, despite AREDS2 being the preferred and recommended choice.
The Implications of Non-Compliance
The misbranding of supplements is a matter of concern and may violate federal law, as per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Consumers unknowingly ingesting non-compliant products might not receive the desired benefits, potentially jeopardizing their eye health and leading to inaccurate dosing. It is essential for clinicians and patients alike to be cautious when selecting supplements and to choose only those adhering to the verified AREDS2 formula.
Ensuring Quality and Reliability
To safeguard their eye health, individuals must be vigilant when choosing AREDS2 supplements. Look for reputable brands that are transparent about their ingredients and dosages, and avoid products that use misleading terms such as "AREDS2-based" without adhering to the official formula. To assist consumers in making informed decisions, the study highlights some AREDS2-adherent brands, including:
- Focus Select AREDS2 Based Formula Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
- Bausch + Lomb PreserVision® AREDS2 Formula
- OJOSLABS Maculabs® AREDS2 Based Formula
- VITEYES AREDS 2 Based Formula Macular Support
- Nature Made Vision with AREDS 2 Formula
- Systane I-Caps® Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement AREDS2
- Visual Advantage Macular Support
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