New Supplement Combines AREDS2 Nutrients with Vitamin B

The new AREDS3 formula includes a vitamin B complex. Photo: Bausch + Lomb. Click image to enlarge.  For patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) seeking nutritional support to reduce the risk of disease progression, Bausch + Lomb recently introduced PreserVision AREDS3, an oral supplement that pairs the AREDS2 nutrient set with additional B vitamins.The over-the-counter formula contains all the antioxidants and minerals found in AREDS2 studies and recommended by the National Eye Institute to help protect macular health by neutralizing free radicals, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and copper. The vitamin B complex added to the new AREDS3 formula contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, folate and vitamin B12—all of which have been shown to help promote healthy cellular eye function, according to Bausch + Lomb.“The development of PreserVision AREDS3 was guided by a growing body of scientific evidence examining the role of certain B vitamins in AMD,” the company explained in its press release. This includes a recent narrative review published in Ophthalmology and Therapy, drawing on “more than two decades of human research, synthesizing findings from more than 20 human studies involving nearly 30,000 individuals, including large randomized clinical trials such as the Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study, which reported a statistically significant association between specific B‑vitamin supplementation and reduced AMD risk.” The company reports plans to conduct a future long‑term clinical trial to evaluate the formulation. Beyond the addition of B vitamins, developers say the new supplement also provides approximately twice the nutrient absorption of prior AREDS formulations. PreserVision AREDS3 vitamins are now available at most retailers nationwide, according to Bausch + Lomb.For more information, go to www.preservision.com.