Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Carnitine-CoQ10 Combo May Help: Mitochondria and peroxisomes of the retinal pigment epithelium may play a central role in causing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 14 adults with early AMD were treated with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin E, while 14 others were treated with vitamin E only. In the treated group, all the visual functions showed slight improvement which was evident after 3 months of treatment and remained nearly stationary for 24 months. The control group showed slow worsening although the difference never became statistically significant due to the small number of patients involved. Mitotropic compounds for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. The metabolic approach and a pilot study. Feher J, Papale A, Mannino G, Gualdi L, Balacco Gabrieli C. University of Rome La Sapienza. Ophthalmologica. 2003 Sep-Oct;217(5):351-7 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Helped: In a 12-month DB PC study of 106 adults with early AMD,those given a combination of acetyl-L-carnitine, n-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10 has improves in visual field mean defects, visual acuity, foveal sensitivity, and fundus alterations for AMD. In the treated group only 2% deteriorated vs. 17% for placebo (p = 0.006, odds ratio: 10.93). Decrease in drusen-covered area of treated eyes was also statistically significant. Feher J et al. University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy. Ophthalmologica. 2005 May-Jun;219(3):154-66 

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Taurine + Vit E + Diltiazem Helps: In a 3-year DB PC study of 62 patients with visual field loss from retinitis pigmentosa, a combination of taurine/diltiazem/vitamin E on the progression of the disease. For placebo, 50% worsened and 15% improved. In the treated group 20% worsened and 23% improved. In the periphery, 69% on placebo worsened and 6% improved vs. 6% worsening on the combination and 53% improving. Over 3 additional years, 19 continued on the combination with similar results. The beneficial effect of decreasing the rate of visual field loss was likely through a protective action from free radical reactions in affected photoreceptors. Treatment with taurine, diltiazem, and vitamin E retards the progressive visual field reduction in retinitis pigmentosa: a 3-year follow-up study. Pasantes-Morales H, et al., National University of Mexico, Metab Brain Dis. 2002 Sep;17(3):183-97.

Vitamin E 400 IU May Worsen Retinitis Pig and Vitamin A Helped: In a DB PC study of 601 patients over 5 years, vitamin A 15,000 and/or vitamin E 400 IU were studied. Arch Opth ’93;111:761. Ed: Vitamin A supplements are definitely not good. Better to get it from healthy fruits and vegetables.

High Dose 1800 IU Helped DM retinopathy & Nephropathy: 1800 IU x 4 mo in DB helped increase retinal blood flow and normalize creatinine levels which signal kidney damage. Diabetes Care 1999 Aug;22(8):1245-51

Low DHA in Retinitis Pigmentosa: Lining around night vision rods is composed of over 50% DHA. If there is no omega-3, animals develop impaired vision.

Lower DHA in RP: Humans with RP had less DHA in RBCs than controls. Simonelli, U Naples, Opthalmic Res 28:93

Retina: Vitamin K Protects Retina of Rats: Rats were given low, adequate or high levels of K(1) in their diets. No association of diet and retina thickness was detected among young (6 month) animals. The sparing effect of vitamin K in the retina was most evident in the inner plexiform layer and in the photoreceptor inner and outer segments of older rats. There was no effect of vitamin K on the age-dependent loss of photoreceptor cells, interneurons or ganglion cells. Vitamin K may help maintain the aging retina. Effects of long-term vitamin K (phylloquinone) intake on retina aging. Carrie I, Ferland G, Obin MS. Universite de Montreal. Nutr Neurosci. 2003 Dec;6(6):351-9

Lower ARMD with DHA, Fish; Higher with Linolenic Acid: A Harvard 12 year follow-up of 70,000 adults over age 50 found four servings per week fish was associated with a 35% decrease in age-related macular degeneration. The lowest quintile in fat had a 54% increase in ARMD (RR 1.54), while high linolenic acid a 40% increase (RR 1.4), and high DHA had a decrease (RR 0.7). Amer J Clin Nutr 2/01;209

Fish Lowers Risk of Age-Related Maculopathy, Cholesterol Increases Risk: In 3654 adults over age 48, ARM was identified from retinal photographs. A higher frequency of fish consumption was associated with decreased odds of late ARM (odds ratio for frequency of consumption more than once per week compared with less than once per month, 0.5). Adults with higher energy-adjusted intakes of cholesterol were significantly more likely to have late ARM, with an increased risk for late ARM for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of intake (odds ratio, 2.7). Arch Ophthalmol 2000 Mar;118(3):401-4

Macular Degeneration: Lutein Improves Vision in Age-related Macular Degeneration:  In a DB PC 12-month trial, 90 patients with ARMD were randomized to 10 mg lutein alone, 10 mg lutein plus antioxidants/vitamins and minerals, or placebo. Low intake of lutein, the primary dietary carotenoid xanthophyll pigment responsible for macula pigment optical density (MPOD) in primates, is a major risk factor for advanced ARMD. In both lutein-treated groups, MPOD increased approximately 0.09 log units from baseline, and contrast sensitivity improved. Snellen equivalent visual acuity improved 5.4 letters in the lutein-only group and 3.5 letters in the lutein/antioxidant group. Stuart Richer. Optometry. 4/2004;75(4):1-15

Macular Degeneration: Spinach Helps Prevent Macular Degeneration: The highest quintile of carotenoid intake had a 43% lower risk for AMD compared with those in the lowest quintile (odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.92; P for trend = .02). Among the specific carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are primarily obtained from dark green, leafy vegetables, were most strongly associated with a reduced risk for AMD (P for trend = .001). Several food items rich in carotenoids were inversely associated with AMD. In particular, a higher frequency of intake of spinach or collard greens was associated with a substantially lower risk for AMD (P for trend Ç .001). The intake of preformed vitamin A (retinol) was not appreciably related to AMD. Neither vitamin E nor total vitamin C consumption was associated with a statistically significant reduced risk for AMD. Mass Eye Inst. JAMA 1994 Nov 9;272(18):1413-20

Macular Degeneration: Lutein in Macula: The macular region of the primate retina is yellow in color due to the presence of the macular pigment, composed of two dietary xanthophylls, lutein and zeaxanthin, and another xanthophyll, meso-zeaxanthin. The latter is presumably formed from either lutein or zeaxanthin in the retina. By absorbing blue-light, the macular pigment protects the underlying photoreceptor cell layer from light damage, possibly initiated by the formation of reactive oxygen species during a photosensitized reaction. There is ample epidemiological evidence that the amount of macular pigment is inversely associated with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration, an irreversible process that is the major cause of blindness in the elderly. The macular pigment can be increased in primates by either increasing the intake. Biologic Mechanisms of the Protective Role of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the Eye. Krinsky NI, Landrum JT, Bone RA. Tufts Univ., Annu Rev Nutr 2003 Feb 27