Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin E, including its gamma-tocopherol form, has been studied for its potential role in the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), primarily because of its antioxidant properties. The scientific interest in Vitamin E and AMD originated with large, multi-center studies such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS and AREDS2), which evaluated the effects of various antioxidants and minerals on the progression of AMD. In these studies, Vitamin E was included as part of a combination supplement (along with vitamin C, beta-carotene or lutein/zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper). Results from these studies showed that the combination could modestly reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD in individuals at high risk, but there is no convincing evidence that Vitamin E alone, or specifically gamma-tocopherol, is effective in preventing or treating AMD. Most of the Vitamin E used in these studies was alpha-tocopherol, and there is even less data regarding gamma-tocopherol specifically. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have generally concluded that Vitamin E, on its own, does not provide significant benefit for AMD prevention or treatment. Therefore, while the use of Vitamin E for AMD is based on scientific investigation, the strength of evidence for its efficacy—especially as a single agent—is weak.

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