AREDS 1

The original Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was published in 2001 and showed the benefit of 5 ingredients in slowing the progress of macular degeneration: Beta-carotene 15 mg, Vitamin C 500 mg, Vitamin E 400 IU, Zinc 80 mg, and Copper 2 mg.

However, beta-carotene has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers, and high levels of zinc were associated with an increased risk of genitourinary side-effects. VisiVite thus developed a modified AREDS formula that substituted lutein for beta-carotene, and reduced zinc and copper for better tolerability.

Original AREDS formulas do NOT contain zeaxanthin.