Zinc question
I have just been reading some posts on forums that suggest that taking Zinc can actually make AMD worse in some individuals.
I take Areds 2 that contain 25mg of Zinc, but I also take a multivitamin tablet that contains 10mg of Zinc. So that’s 35mg per day when the recommended daily amount is 10mg.
I have been taking these for about 6 months now and 2 weeks ago I went for a eye exam and OCT scan and was told everything is the same and no change.
So my question is should I continue to take the Areds 2? Or in my situation would you change? I can get the Areds 2 zinc free version…would this be a sensible move do you think?
I often think about the levels of zinc in my AREDS2 supplements. I take the formulation which contains 80 mg of zinc per day. I asked my first eye specialist if I could change to a lesser dose, but she said I should stay on the 80 mg. This is definitely above the daily recommended allowance, but it was the dosage primarily studied in the AREDS2 studies, I understand. I believe it has helped slow my progression over ten years, but it is difficult to really know. I also have a one-a-day formulation which is the same but for the zinc. The one-a-day has 25 mg of zinc. My current retina specialist is happy with 25 mg a day. I take this sometimes if I am travelling, or otherwise very busy, when I feel the one-a-day is easier. I have heard people in this community say that AREDS2 could possibly be detrimental to certain people, but I have no scientific knowledge of this, so I can't help in that regard. Have you been able to ask your primary care provider or your specialist about the zinc levels? Wendy, Patient Leader.
