What are antioxidants, and what role do they play in AMD?
In thinking about free radicles in the course of degenerative disease such as AMD, antioxidants are substances that neutralize and significantly inhibit the rate at which free radicles operate, keeping down the population of these destructive elements. There are vitamin antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and C; mineral antioxidants such as zinc and selenium; and bioflavenoid antioxidants such as grape seed, citrus extract, and carotenoid pigments such as the carotenes and xanthophylls. It is believed by many that free radicles play some role in AMD although the exact mechanism is not clear. The substances that you may hear most about regarding AMD are zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein is a xanthophyll and is found in spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens, and egg yolks. Lutein is the only xanthophyll that accumulates in the eye, specifically the macula. Closely related to lutein is zeaxanthin which seems to produce a thicker, more protective macular pigment. It is thought that a
