Queen's University Belfast academics have helped develop an antioxidant supplement which could slow down sight loss in elderly people.

A five-year research program has found that the supplement could help those affected by age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the Western World.

Professor Usha Chakravarthy coordinated the study, which looked at nutritional supplements for patients with early age-related macular degeneration and found they helped sharpen vision.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease which causes blurring of central vision because of its effects on the macula, the central part of the retina.

Over 400 people across Ireland took part in clinical trials investigating whether carotenoids, rich antioxidants which are found in fruit and vegetables, could prevent progression to the more serious late macular degeneration.

When the eye disease progresses to late macular degeneration patients are unable to read, watch television or recognize people's faces as they only have peripheral vision, not central vision.

Professor Chakravarthy said: "Late macular degeneration causes severe sight loss and has a huge economic impact both in terms of the effects of sight loss itself and in terms of the expensive treatments that are needed to deal with the condition.

"Up to 500 people a year in Northern Ireland will lose sight in one or both eyes as a result of late macular degeneration.

"We wanted to carry out the study as prevention of progression to late macular degeneration can result in a reduced financial and societal burden."

As the macula of the eye is very rich in antioxidants the researchers wanted to see if a supplement called CARMA (Caroteneoids and Co-antioxidants in Age-related Maculopathy) containing the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin could help slow down macular degeneration.

The supplement also contained vitamins C,E and Zinc, which had been used in a previous study.

The latest study showed that intake of high levels of both carotenoids preserved the macular pigments, slowing down the progression from early macular degeneration to late macular degeneration.

In contrast, the macular pigments of participants in a placebo group declined steadily.

Dr Chakravarthy added: "These findings are important because this is the first randomized controlled clinical trial to document a beneficial effect through improved function and maintained macular pigments.

"Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify the numbers needed to treat to prevent 1 case from progressing from early to late macular degeneration."
References:
1. Usha Chakravarthy, et al. Queen's University Belfast.