The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) enrolled over 4,200 individuals through 82 sites across the United States. AREDS was funded by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals produced the formulations for the supplements used in this study.
AREDS2 sought to validate the AREDS AMD scale developed from the photographic data obtained from AREDS. Other study goals included evaluation of the efficacy and safety of lutein plus zeaxanthin (LZ) and/or -3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation in reducing the risk of developing advanced AMD. The study also assessed the reduction in zinc and the omission of beta-carotene from the original AREDS formulation.
In the AREDS2 trial, adding omega-3 fatty acids or lutein + zeaxanthin to the AREDS formula had no additional overall effect on the risk of advanced AMD. However, AREDS2 participants who took antioxidants minus beta-carotene but with lutein + zeaxanthin (AREDS2 formula) had an incremental increase in benefit, compared to those who took the AREDS formula.
Additional details about the AREDS2 study design, supplements, and results of the clinical trial are available here: https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2.
Organization and Contact Information
Matthew W. Mitchell, P.h.D - Principal Investigator
email: mmitchell@coriell.org
phone: 856-412-6999
Emily Y. Chew, M.D.
Senior Investigator
NEI, NIH
Abby Amberson - Project Manager
email: aamberson@coriell.org
phone: 856-966-5062
Thomas Cutts - Project Manager
email: tcutts@coriell.org
phone: 856-408-3781
General inquiries
email: nei@coriell.org
phone: 856-757-3805
