Having high levels of homocysteine in the blood is correlated with having a greater risk of developing AMD (as well as cardiovascular diseases). It's well-known that taking folic acid (the supplemental form of the B vitamin folate), vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 supplements reduce homocysteine levels significantly, but studies haven't correlated that reduction to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this new study found that women (average age of 60 who had cardiovascular disease or several risk factors) who took the B vitamin supplements had a reduced rate of AMD.
The researchers aren't completely sure that the reduced rate of AMD is due to reduction of homocysteine, the effect could be due to antioxidant activity or perhaps by increasing levels of nitric oxide, a substance that improves blood flow.
The amount of vitamins used in the study were 2.5 mg folic, 50 mg vitamin B6 and 1 mg vitamin B12 per day.
This study only looked at preventing AMD, not treating the disease. An earlier study called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study found that a combination of antioxidant and zinc supplements helped to slow down the progression of AMD.
Thanks, Shereen. This is a reasonable illness to try to prevent since treatement is somewhat frustrating to patients and physicians. And so much is at stake.
For your readers who may not know, two other ways to prevent macular degeneration are 1) not smoking, and 2) using sunglasses to protect eyes from excessive sunlight.
And pick the right parents, since there is a genetic component.
-Steve
My scandhovian grandmother believed billberry fruit did the same thing. Followed up on her belief and found it works. Also improves night vision too.
Gardennut
Billberry contains lutein, which is one of the antioxidants in the AREDS study.