Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation for preventing age-related macular degeneration (Cochrane Review)

A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 14 July 1999. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if necessary.

Background: Some observational studies have suggested that people who eat a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins (carotenoids, vitamins C and E) or minerals (selenium and zinc) may be less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration.

Objectives: The aim of this review is to examine the evidence as to whether or not taking vitamin or mineral supplements prevents the development of age-related macular degeneration.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register - CENTRAL/CCTR, which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group trials register (Cochrane Library Issue 2 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to April 2002), EMBASE (1980 to February 2002), reference lists of identified reports and the Science Citation Index. We contacted investigators and experts in the field for details of unpublished studies

Selection criteria: We included all randomised trials comparing an antioxidant vitamin and/or mineral supplement (alone or in combination) to control. We included only studies where supplementation had been given for at least one year.

Data collection and analysis: Both reviewers independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. No data synthesis was conducted.

Main results: Two trials, which randomised a total of 1957 participants, are included in this review. One trial in Finnish men randomised participants to placebo, vitamin E, beta carotene or both. The other trial in Australia randomised participants to vitamin E or placebo. There was no statistically significant association of age-related macular degeneration with treatment. The number of cases of age-related macular degeneration were small (n=23) and hence the studies were underpowered to examine this question.

Reviewers' conclusions: There is no evidence to date that people without age-related macular degeneration should take antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. The results of five large ongoing trials are awaited.

Citation: Evans JR, Henshaw K. Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation for preventing age-related macular degeneration (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2003. Oxford: Update Software.

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This is an abstract of a regularly updated, systematic review prepared and maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).

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