vitacost.com - Press Releases 12/13/99

CHICAGO, Monday, December 13, 1999 - The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Chicago, IL today announced that a clinical study on the effectiveness of lutein and antioxident supplementation in treating age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is underway. Principal Investigator, Stuart Richer, O.D., Ph.D, will lead the year-long study, officially titled: A placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized trial of lutein and antioxident supplementation for the treatment of ARMD.

As Chief, Optometry – Eye Clinic/Surgical Service at DVA Medical Center, Dr. Richer is regularly published in industry journals and one of the foremost experts on nutrition as it relates to ocular health. In recent years, he has participated in

numerous clinical studies, including the Naval Aerospace Research Medical Laboratory’s study, "Night Vision for Special Warfare" and Southern California College of Optometry’s "Evaluation of a Systemic Nutrient Supplement for Dry Eyes."

Allen Josephs, M.D., a board-certified internist and neurologist, section chief of neurology, St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ, believes that Dr. Richer’s study is unique. "Unlike the majority of studies, where the focus is on just one nutrient, this study is the first of its kind to explore the effectiveness of a whole group of nutrients in the treatment of ARMD," said Dr. Josephs. "I am tremendously optimistic about the study and its potential impact on the more than 13 million Americans who suffer from ARMD."

The 12-month study is a placebo-controlled, double blind study with three arms; one arm placebo, one arm 10 mg lutein, and one arm consisting of a natural formula containing betatene™ & Ester-C®, vitamins A, E & B-complex, alpha lipoic acid, standardized bilberry, lycopene, lutein and L-OptiZinc™ .

A total of 90 human patients that have been diagnosed with ARMD are involved in the study (30 in each of the three arms). The progress of the 90 patients will be monitored with a variety of visual and blood tests over the course of the study.