Macular Vitamins: What to Look for in a Macular Supplement
How do you choose the best macular vitamins to take? Read this to know what to look for in a quality macular supplement.
You want a product that will give maximum benefit to your vision and the best real value for price. The first thing to assess is whether it contains the most essential ingredients for the health of the macula in your eyes. So lets look at a checklist of these ingredients.
In our opinion, macular vitamins must contain:
• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are not produced in the body. It is difficult or impossible to eat enough (in source foods, marigolds etc) daily, so you must take them in supplement form. Zeaxanthin is dominant in the center of the macula, Lutein at the edges (according to a 2003 study). Both are needed. You want a good level of Zeaxanthin: 10mg is best.
Also look for these herbal ingredients:
• Bilberry
• Ginkgo biloba
• Grape seed extract
And:
• Selenium (an essential element for eyes)
• Taurine (acetyl-L-carnitine can also be useful)
• Alpha-Lipoic acid
Your eyes as well as general health require daily intake of vitamins A, B, C and E (and small amounts of D and K), trace elements and minerals. Vitamins A, C, E and zinc and copper are identified in the AREDS research (see ‘AREDS Vitamins Study’). Omega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial for eyesight and general health. (Read our posts on eye health nutrients, antioxidant nutrition, foods, fish oil etc for more information).
Some or all of these ingredients may be included in supplements sold for macular degeneration. However, individual requirements vary according to diet, genetics and other factors. Also, most people are already taking a daily multivitamin supplement, and it’s important not to double up on these basic vitamins.
We have found the best solution is to take a good multivitamin/mineral supplement for overall health, and a separate macular formula with the vision-specific ingredients listed above.
The product we chose fits the list most closely. Consult with your eye care specialist and doctor to be sure of details in your own situation. That said, we cannot do better than to recommend the macular vitamins we take.
Click here now to get the best macular vitamins.
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