413
Views
22
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Dietary supplementation: effects on visual performance and occurrence of AMD and cataracts

Pages 2011-2023 | Accepted 17 May 2010, Published online: 30 Jun 2010
 

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate results of studies that have provided information regarding the effects of dietary supplementation on visual performance, development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and risk for cataracts.

Research design and methods:

Studies with information about the effects of dietary supplementation were identified via PubMed searches that combined (in separate searches) the terms ‘supplement’ OR ‘supplementation’ OR ‘diet’ AND ‘cataract’ or ‘macular degeneration’ or ‘visual’ OR ‘vision’. Additional references concerned with biologic effects of specific agents, measurement of visual function, and the etiology and epidemiology of cataracts and AMD were identified on the basis of PubMed conventional literature searches.

Results:

Studies of the effects of dietary supplementation, primarily with preparations including lutein and zeaxanthin, have demonstrated improvements in contrast sensitivity and visual performance under glare conditions that, in some studies, have been correlated with effects of treatment on macular pigment optical density. Results from both observational and prospective interventional studies generally support the conclusion that dietary supplements including these xanthophylls significantly decrease the occurrence of AMD and the development of nuclear lens opacities. However, there is variability in results regarding effects of dietary supplementation that may be related to limitations of long-term observational or interventional studies and which cannot be easily controlled or which may also be related in some studies to other important, yet unrecorded, diet- and lifestyle-related factors that are capable of influencing the risks for AMD and/or cataracts.

Conclusions:

The multiple benefits of dietary supplementation support the development and use of these preparations to promote optimal visual function and decrease risk for AMD and cataracts. Increasing understanding of the optimal approach to supplementation will depend upon results from interventional studies that also carefully evaluate and analyze well-established factors for these two conditions.

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This paper was funded by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

F.M.B. has disclosed that he is an advisor to Pfizer as an expert panel participant.

Some peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. The peer reviewers of this paper have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the assistance of Robert Rhoades, PhD, BoomCom, Inc., in the development of this paper.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 681.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.