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In 1992, the National Eye Institute of the National Institute of Health began a carefully-controlled, nation-wide scientific study (the AREDS Trial) to determine with certainty if certain anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals, in relatively high doses, could actually slow down the progression of macular degeneration. The results of this study, published in October 2001, clearly demonstrated that the vitamins and minerals tested were able to reduce the risk of developing advanced stages of AMD.
Utilizing the formula proven in AREDS, American Vitamin Supply, in cooperation with leading retina specialists, has developed Retinavites, the vitamin and mineral supplement that delivers AREDS specifications at half the cost of other national brands. Manufactured and distributed in the United States, Retinavites and Retinavites-Smokers Formula are the vitamin and mineral supplement proven effective by the National Eye Institute.
Please remember that although AREDS proved that the Retinavite formulation was effective in slowing down the progression of macular degeneration, the following cautions should be noted:
- Patients with severe AMD and poor vision in both eyes might not benefit from vitamins and mineral supplements. Because these are very high potency vitamin supplements, they should only be taken if recommended by your eye doctor.
- While the doses of these supplements, except copper, exceed the levels recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, none of the thousands of patients in the study had any significant side-effects.
- Beta Carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke cigarettes or have a history of smoking. Smokers, and recent ex-smokers, should not take beta carotene unless they have discussed it with their primary care doctors. American Vitamin Supply recommends Retinavites - Smokers Formula for patients with smoking histories.
- There are many vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements that have been marketed for use in patients with AMD (such as lutein, bilberry, and selenium). The AREDS Trial only tested the five vitamins and mineral mentioned above. There is no reliable evidence that any other supplements are either helpful or harmful for patients with AMD.
The vitamins and minerals described above have been proven successful in the recent AREDS trial of the National Eye Institute. This combination of vitamins and minerals is available through many sources. American Vitamin Supply under the direction of the physicians of Retina Consultants of Michigan, have made Retinavites and Retinavites - Smokers Formula available so that patients with Macular Degeneration who wish to take supplements proven effective by the AREDS trials, can do so at an affordable price.
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