A new report published in JAMA Ophthalmology analyzed 10 years’ worth of AREDS2 data.
The report showed that the AREDS2 formula, which used the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin in place of beta-carotene, not only reduces the risk of lung cancer caused by exposure to beta-carotene, but is also more effective at reducing the risk of AMD progression, compared with the original formula.
The researchers followed up with 3,883 of the original 4,203 AREDS2 participants 5 years after the end of the AREDS2 study in 2011, collecting information on whether their AMD had progressed to late-stage disease, and whether they had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Even though all the participants had switched to the formula containing lutein and zeaxanthin after the end of the study period, the follow-up study continued to show that beta-carotene increased the risk of lung cancer for people who had previously smoked by nearly double. There was no increased risk of lung cancer in those receiving lutein and zeaxanthin.
After 10 years, the group originally assigned to receive lutein and zeaxanthin had an additional 20% reduced risk of progression to late AMD compared with those originally assigned to receive beta-carotene. (via)