Lutein and zeaxanthin for age-related macular degeneration
What it found
In people at risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration, taking lutein plus zeaxanthin, DHA plus EPA, or both did not significantly reduce the chance of the disease getting worse over about 5 years.
What they found
Studies in people
Progression to advanced AMD
By 5 years, the chance of progressing to advanced AMD was 31% with placebo, 29% with lutein plus zeaxanthin, 31% with DHA plus EPA, and 30% with both. The differences were not statistically significant.
Beta carotene and zinc
Removing beta carotene or lowering the zinc dose did not appear to affect progression to advanced AMD.
Lung cancer
More lung cancers were noted in the beta carotene group than in the no beta carotene group (23 versus 11), mostly in former smokers.
What the authors conclude
“Addition of lutein + zeaxanthin, DHA + EPA, or both to the AREDS formulation in primary analyses did not further reduce risk of progression to advanced AMD.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that adding lutein plus zeaxanthin, DHA plus EPA, or both to the AREDS formulation did not further reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD in the primary analyses.
- They say that because of a possible increased incidence of lung cancer in former smokers, lutein plus zeaxanthin could be an appropriate carotenoid substitute in the AREDS formulation.
How it was done
The AREDS formulation of antioxidant vitamins, beta carotene and zinc has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration. Observational data suggested that eating more lutein plus zeaxanthin, or omega-3 fats, or both might reduce this risk further.
The study enrolled 4203 people aged 50 to 85 with large drusen in both eyes, or large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the other. They were randomly assigned to take lutein (10 mg) plus zeaxanthin (2 mg), DHA (350 mg) plus EPA (650 mg), both, or placebo, and were followed for a median of 5 years.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial tested lutein plus zeaxanthin at specific doses in people already at risk of advanced AMD. It cannot show whether the same results apply to other doses, other groups, or people without this risk.
- The lung cancer finding was based on a small number of cases and was not the main outcome of the trial.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by PHS HHS; NEI NIH HHS; Intramural NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
The paper
- Title
- Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group (2013). Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997PubMed 23644932DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error