Vitamins & Eye Health
There are a myriad of vitamins on the market that make vague claims regarding eye health. Most of these claims are extrapolated from a handful of studies that have been done on the subject.
Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules or compounds that can damage your own cells, cell membranes and even DNA. Antioxidants nutrients such as OPCs, vitamins, and minerals are capable of counteracting the damage caused by excessive free radicals. Specifically, antioxidants can stabilize free radicals before it has a chance in causing cell damage (known as oxidative stress) or prevent other molecules from generating into unstable free radicals.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was a 10-year multifaceted study that took place in the 1990’s. AREDS report No. 8 focused on vitamin supplementation in patients with dry-type macular degeneration and found that patients in the “high-risk” group had a significantly lower risk of vision loss if they took a combination of antioxidant vitamins (Beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc). This study looked at a very narrow group of patients; because of this study, we generally recommend all patients with dry-type macular degeneration take antioxidant supplements.
There is anecdotal evidence to support the use of Omega-3 fish oil supplements in the treatment of dry eyes. Several studies in Europe have looked at antioxidants in the prevention of cataracts; these studies have been inconclusive. Nonetheless, a number of herbal “cataract” drops are available over-the-counter.
Vitamin supplements and herbal medicines can have adverse effects. Beta-carotene has been found to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. High-dose vitamin E was at one point thought to be protective against heart disease; the opposite was found to be true. Vitamin K can interfere with clotting in patients taking the blood thinner coumadin. The active ingredient in Red Yeast Rice used to lower cholesterol levels has the same potential to cause liver damage as its “statin” counterpart. Therefore, you should always consult your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement.
All vitamin supplements are not the same. Vitamins and herbal medicines are classified as foods rather than drugs by the FDA and do not receive the same scrutiny that pharmaceuticals receive. Therefore, it is critical to choose a reputable manufacturer to insure quality and potency. Vitamins also come in a variety of forms: pills, powders and liquids. Pills are often poorly absorbed by the body and can be found in the stool undigested. There was a recent article in Time Magazine (“Flushed Away”, April 2010) that described the problem of oral medications and supplements that pass through the digestive tract on into the sewer. Powders increase the chance of absorption, but incorrect formulations still may not be fully absorbed by the body. Liquids usually require refrigeration and may settle leading to overdose of some components.
Because so many patients have asked me about vitamins, I researched the spectrum of vitamins and found nutraMetrix. Their supplements are a powder that is reconstituted with a specific amount of water to create an isotonic solution that is the same concentration as body tissues. This means that the supplement is rapidly absorbed rather than passing through the GI tract undigested. Furthermore, nutraMetrix voluntarily follows pharmaceutical industry guidelines to insure product quality. We have partnered with nutraMetrix to provide these high-quality supplements.