In May of 2013, the National Eye Institute reported their findings from the 5 year follow up study to AREDS called AREDS 2. The original AREDS study found that when AMD patients added daily supplements into their diet with high doses of antioxidants and zinc it helped slow the progression of dry age related macular degeneration and reduced their risk of vision loss.
AREDS 2 looked at several factors trying to improve the formulation and efficacy of the AREDS formula, which originally found that specific quantities of vitamins C & E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper were beneficial in slowing the progression of the eye disease. AREDS 2 researched different combinations and different quantities of some of the original items studied in AREDS. AREDS 2 also studied the effects of lutein, zeaxanthin, and Omega-3 fatty acids on the progression of age related macular degeneration.
In summary, AREDS 2 found no benefits from Omega-3 fatty acids in reducing the risk of vision loss from AMD, however, lutein and zeaxanthin were found beneficial and slowed the progression in people that had low levels of these antioxidants in their daily diets and with participants who took a beta-carotene free AREDS formulation in addition to lutein and zeaxanthin.
Based on this “gold standard” information from the National Eye Institute, Preserve Mac Forte was reformulated in December of 2013. The latest formulation of our product is called Preserve Mac Forte Advanced and is the only product available now. It replaces the original Preserve Mac Forte and also Preserve Mac (the smoker’s formulation).
This new and improved “advanced” formulation is still referred to as Preserve Mac Forte, and it is now beta-carotene free (which makes it safe for smokers). It also contains a full 2 mg of zeaxanthin as suggested by the findings in AREDS 2 by the National Eye Institute.