A new randomized, double-blind, control trial suggests that taking12 mg supplemental lutein daily along with 15,000 IU vitamin A may slow damage to mid-peripheral vision that arises from retinitis pigmentosa.
The research suggests that 20 additional years of better mid-peripheral vision can be expected for patients who are 40 who take the recommended supplementation, compared to significant vision loss by the early 50’s. This further earlier research which indicated that taking vitamin A was helpful for retinal health.
This study included only people who do not smoke – for smokers there are problems in taking lutein.
Published: Clinical Trial of Lutein in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A, Archives of Ophthalmology
2010, Vol. 128, Issue 4, Pages 403-411
Researchers: E.L. Berson, and associates
This substantiates earlier research:
In a 48-week intervention trial, researchers tested Lutein supplementation
for vision protective-function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The conclusion of the study was as follows: “Comparing the development of vision measures against the natural loss expected to occur over the course of the 48 weeks, most measures showed reduced decline, and these reductions were significant for normal illumination”.
Ophthalmology (BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:23)