The Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST)

As of yet there exists no cure for AMD. The best hope for those who believe they may have this disease is to receive medical attention, at the earliest opportunity. Because it's possible to provide AMD patients with effective dietary advice and nutritional supplementation, early detection is crucial.

For the first time, the benefit of lutein supplementation for eye health was shown by a study known as the “Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial” (LAST). This study showed a statistically significant improvement in visual function, glare recovery, and contrast sensitivity.

LAST, a groundbreaking year-long study conducted by the U.S. Government's Veteran's Administration, was very successful. In fact, Nutraceutical Sciences Institute's® (NSI®) OcuPower®, which was used in the study, now has the distinction of appearing in the April 2004 edition of Optometry, Journal of the American Optometric Association. Improvement of vision and of “dry” (also known as atrophic) AMD symptoms were the goals of this study. And because low lutein intake is a major risk factor for AMD, LAST was designed to evaluate lutein's effects, both as part of the OcuPower formula and alone.

One group took OcuPower, and this group displayed documented levels of improved vision, in a variety of areas, including contrast sensitivity or quality of vision. According to researchers, these findings show that OcuPower's formulation of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, together with just the right amount and form of lutein, is very effective for improving vision in patients with AMD. In this study, the patients were split into groups, and given different nutrient combinations. The results of LAST were very encouraging, and the group that took the OcuPower formula actually experienced improved vision function. The average age of the patients in the study was 76.

OcuPower contains a patented formula of 39 nutrients minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and amino acids, in their optimal amounts and forms. It has been formulated with 10 mg of FloraGlo® lutein - 40 times higher than the store-bought once-a-day multi-vitamins. OcuPower also contains 160 mg of standardized bilberry (which may prevent cataracts, and may help to treat AMD).

The authors of this study suggest that AMD is, at least in part, a nutrition-responsive disorder, and that supplementation, particularly with lutein, can improve eye function and slow the progression of the disease. Other studies have supported the role of lutein in AMD.

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