When should the supplementation not be issued according to AREDS1?

The statement that supplementation should not be issued until intermediate or advanced AMD stage aligns with the findings of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). According to AREDS1, the study aimed to determine if high doses of certain vitamins and minerals could slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in individuals who already had specific stages of the disease.

Supplements were specifically designed for individuals who had intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye. The rationale behind this guideline stems from the understanding that those without AMD, or in the early stages of the disease, may not experience the same benefits from supplementation, as the risk of progression to advanced stages varies significantly among different AMD classifications.

Therefore, supplementation is not recommended for individuals with earlier stages of AMD or no AMD at all, as the potential benefits do not outweigh the risks or costs involved in supplementation for those populations. This approach ensures that the therapy is targeted towards individuals who are more likely to benefit from it—those already at risk for significant vision loss due to AMD.