The Problem
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic eye disease that affects a person’s central vision. It is a leading cause of blindness in those over age 50. For 2 million of Canadians living with AMD, supplements containing antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are vital for reducing the risk of vision loss. However, researchers have pulled the alarm after discovering that a shocking 64% of tested AMD supplements sold in Canada fail to meet their label claim. These products did not have the amount of antioxidants that they claimed to have, meaning they would be less effective!
How is this possible? Currently, Health Canada guidelines for Natural Health Products only require that the quantity of medicinal ingredients be a minimum of 80% of the label claim, leaving leeway for companies. Researchers have notified Health Canada of their alarming findings regarding AMD supplements, and Health Canada will conduct a formal investigation into these products.
How Do I Make Sure I Am Taking The Right Supplement?
At our clinic, we take pride in recommending eye health products, vitamins, and eye drops that are of the highest quality. For our patients with AMD, we confidently recommend Vision Essence Early Defence due their exceptional quality control. They periodically test their supplements using independent labs to ensure their products are safe, pure, and maintain the necessary level of ingredients.
Not only this, but Vision Essence comes in liquid-filled capsules, which are stable and well-absorbed by the body. Studies show gel & liquid capsules are superior to powder-based supplements, which tend to degrade faster, making them significantly less effective shortly after the bottle is opened.
If you are ever unsure about whether you are taking the best eye supplements for you, ask your eye doctor. We are happy to help!
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Written by: Dr. Natalia Fong & Dr. Fabian Tai
Reference: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/many-supplements-for-vision-loss-do-not-achieve-their-label-claim-researcher-says-1.5468929
Photo Credit: Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
*Our authors do not report any conflict of interest. This post is not sponsored by Vision Essence.