Which nutritional approach is often recommended to manage AMD progression?

Oral antioxidant supplements are often recommended as a nutritional approach to manage the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This recommendation is primarily based on research indicating that certain vitamins and minerals can play a significant role in eye health and may help slow the progression of AMD.

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that a specific combination of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc, reduced the risk of progression to advanced AMD in individuals who already had intermediate AMD. These supplements are believed to combat oxidative stress, which is a factor in the degeneration of retinal cells. By providing the necessary antioxidants, these supplements may help protect the retina from further damage.

In contrast, while dietary factors like omega-3 fatty acids may have beneficial effects on overall eye health, they are not directly linked to the management of AMD progression in the same way as the specific oral antioxidant supplements highlighted in AMD research. Other diets, such as low-carb or high-protein diets, generally lack the targeted protective components found in the recommended supplements for AMD management.