Vitamins Might Help Prevent Blindness

Folic acid, vitamin B₆, and vitamin B₁₂ supplements were associated with lower risk for age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans who are 60 or older. In a substudy of the Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study (WAFACS; JW Womens Health Jun 12 2008), 5440 participants without AMD at baseline reported on annual questionnaires whether they had received AMD diagnoses. Reported AMD cases and stages were confirmed by the women’s ophthalmologists. Participants were randomized to receive daily placebo or supplements containing folic acid (2.5 mg), pyridoxine (vitamin B₆, 50 mg), and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B₁₂, 1 mg).

At a mean follow-up of 7.3 years, vitamin recipients were less likely to have developed AMD than were placebo recipients (relative risk, 0.66; 95% confidence…

Reviewing Author

Wendy S. Biggs, MD

Vitamins Might Help Prevent Blindness

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Reviewing Author