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Natural Supplements: Health or Hype?
Everybody has heard about Saw Palmetto, right? It's a natural substance touted to prevent prostate enlargement in men (abbreviated BPH). Most men over 60 have some form of BPH and the urinary symptoms that accompany the condition.
Just this week a large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine discredited any medicinal value of Saw Palmetto. (Full Report)
This product made it into the mainstream marketplace without rigorous proof of any genuine benefits. Most clinical studies were short term with few participants. Oftentimes there was no placebo or inadequate 'blinding' to keep the study objective. There remains no concensus regarding how the 'active ingredient' in Saw Palmetto works!
So you ask, why is the WebMD 'Eye Guy'talking about prostate and palmetto?
Many folks consume a variety of vitamins, nutrients, herbals, botanicals, and antioxidants because they believe these supplements will prevent aging changes to the eyes and preserve clear vision. Will there soon be more stories to dispute the benefits of Vitamins A, C, E as well as zinc?
Fortunately, eye care will not be similarly blindsided.
A huge, expensive, well-designed, objective and controlled clinical study has been underway for many years. It is sponsored by the National Eye Institute and it is called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study).
AREDS studied thousands of people and the healthy effects of vitamins and zinc in the prevention of Macular Degeneration. Review the findings here. NEI also reports that Lutein has received intense scrutiny and has been found to be beneficial to preserving eyesight. NEI is organizing more clinical studies to verify the efficacy of other supplements.
Related Topics: Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health, , Nutrition Advice You Can Take to Heart
Technorati Tags: saw palmetto, lutein, supplements
Just this week a large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine discredited any medicinal value of Saw Palmetto. (Full Report)
This product made it into the mainstream marketplace without rigorous proof of any genuine benefits. Most clinical studies were short term with few participants. Oftentimes there was no placebo or inadequate 'blinding' to keep the study objective. There remains no concensus regarding how the 'active ingredient' in Saw Palmetto works!
So you ask, why is the WebMD 'Eye Guy'talking about prostate and palmetto?
Many folks consume a variety of vitamins, nutrients, herbals, botanicals, and antioxidants because they believe these supplements will prevent aging changes to the eyes and preserve clear vision. Will there soon be more stories to dispute the benefits of Vitamins A, C, E as well as zinc?
Fortunately, eye care will not be similarly blindsided.
A huge, expensive, well-designed, objective and controlled clinical study has been underway for many years. It is sponsored by the National Eye Institute and it is called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study).
AREDS studied thousands of people and the healthy effects of vitamins and zinc in the prevention of Macular Degeneration. Review the findings here. NEI also reports that Lutein has received intense scrutiny and has been found to be beneficial to preserving eyesight. NEI is organizing more clinical studies to verify the efficacy of other supplements.
Related Topics: Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health, , Nutrition Advice You Can Take to Heart
Technorati Tags: saw palmetto, lutein, supplements
