Researchers have looked at the benefit of individual nutrients for fighting AMD, but only recently has anyone looked at total antioxidant status or total circulating blood levels of various antioxidants. Japanese researchers recently measured levels of various antioxidants in people that did and did not have AMD.



Only low levels of vitamin E and cryptoxanthin (an antioxidant in the carotenoid family) were found in people that had AMD. But, those people that did not have AMD had higher circulating levels of a variety of different antioxidants. They concluded that antioxidants found in the traditional Japanese diet provide protection against AMD.

Other studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of antioxidants in the bloodstream protect the health of the heart and the kidneys. They are associated with a reduced risk of various types of cancer, as well. So, for your overall health, a zeaxanthin formula that includes a variety of different antioxidants is your best choice.

Of course, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is also wise. You can't expect to go around eating junk food all of your life, without developing some kind of chronic or life threatening disease. But, if you haven't always been perfect, there are some antioxidants that actually counteract the negative effects of a high fat junk-food diet. One of them is resveratrol.

When it comes to eye health, resveratrol may be beneficial for the “wet” from of AMD, because that type involves damage to blood vessels and resveratrol has been shown to protect against blood vessel damage.

There is one zeaxanthin formula on the market that contains resveratrol and dozens of other antioxidants, too many to list here. But, most of the dietary supplements on the market are poorly designed. Testing has revealed that many cheap supplements do not contain what the label claims. This is one instance where you get what you pay for.

When you are comparing supplements, check out the manufacturer. Be sure that the company takes steps to insure purity, potency and effectiveness. Visit their website and read customer comments, if they post them. Look for a no risk guarantee.

Make sure that the zeaxanthin formula that you choose contains all natural ingredients. Many vitamins, including vitamin E, can be created synthetically for less money than it costs to buy the naturally occurring vitamin. Most of the supplements on the market contain the synthetic form.

Some scientists argue that synthetics are just as good as the naturally occurring nutrients. But, there have been no scientific studies comparing the activity of the synthetic types to the naturally occurring vitamins. It really doesn't make sense that a “plastic” vitamin would do your body any good.

More studies are being conducted every day concerning the benefits of antioxidants to human health. They all indicate that a zeaxanthin formula is a worthwhile investment, as long as it provides a number of different antixoidants.