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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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AMD and antioxidants
- Emanuel S Rosen (16 October 2007)
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Emanuel S Rosen, Consultant Ophthalmologist Manchester M3 4DY
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Dear Sir The editorial in this weeks BMJ commenting on the meta-analysis by Chong EW, Wong TY, et al. British Medical Journal 2007 Oct 8 on the value of antioxidants in the prevention of AMD concluded that there is no evidence that antioxidants have any value in AMD prophylaxis. In this particular case, analyzing published studies that looked at so few antioxidants, and then claiming antioxidants to be ineffective for degenerative disease prevention is unhelpful. The complex biochemical synergy of the full- spectrum of nutrients must be taken into consideration before making such claims. Does this take into account nutrient and antioxidant deficiency of that percentage of the population who do not consume five fruits and vegetables a day? Specific nutritional antioxidants can be efficacious for a number of degenerative diseases, but only after the nutrient needs required to maintain basic biochemical balance are met. This becomes particularly important when genetic transcription is involved in the disease process, as with most age related eye disease. Considering the vitally important role that the B complex vitamins play in gene transcription and DNA repair and survival, and the role that a large number of minerals and phytochemicals play in optimal antioxidant and cellular mitochondrial function; one wonders who funded the meta-analysis that completely ignored these nutrients? Finally the non-peer reviewed editorial referred to ‘neovascular degeneration’ when neovascular generation would have been the correct term to describe the sub-retinal neovascular response seen in the wet form of AMD. Yours etc Emanuel Rosen MD FRCSEd
Competing interests: None declared |
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