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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
AREDS2 Formula vs L. casei Shirota: AREDS2 Formula has the stronger overall evidence (7 vs 5/10); the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
AREDS2 Formula wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
One AREDS2 daily regimen, usually split into two servings: vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg, zinc 80 mg (as zinc oxide) and copper 2 mg (as cupric oxide)
with-meals
A product matching the AREDS2 composition exactly: vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg, zinc 80 mg, copper 2 mg
One 65-100 mL bottle of the fermented milk drink daily, delivering roughly 6.5 x 10^9 to 1 x 10^11 CFU depending on the product. Doses across trials span this whole range with no dose-comparison study to separate them.
any
Fermented milk drink containing L. casei Shirota (Yakult), 65-100 mL daily
Years — average follow-up was 6.3 years
Years
Long-term
Years
4 weeks
2 weeks
2-12 weeks
8 weeks
Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial.
JAMA (2013) · Rct · n=4203
Primary analysis was NULL: lutein/zeaxanthin HR 0.90 (98.7% CI 0.76-1.07, P=.12); DHA+EPA HR 0.97 (0.82-1.16, P=.70); both together HR 0.89 (0.75-1.06, P=.10)
A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8.
Arch Ophthalmol (2001) · Rct · n=3640
Antioxidants plus zinc vs placebo for advanced AMD: OR 0.72 (99% CI 0.52-0.98). Zinc alone OR 0.75 (0.55-1.03); antioxidants alone OR 0.80 (0.59-1.09) — neither significant on its own
Long-term Outcomes of Adding Lutein/Zeaxanthin and ω-3 Fatty Acids to the AREDS Supplements on Age-Related Macular Degeneration Progression: AREDS2 Report 28.
JAMA Ophthalmol (2022) · Cohort · n=3882
10-year lung cancer odds ratio: 1.82 (95% CI 1.06-3.12, P=.02) for beta-carotene assignment vs 1.15 (0.79-1.66, P=.46) for lutein/zeaxanthin
Efficacy of daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on respiratory symptoms and influenza vaccination immune response: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy elderly nursing home residents.
Am J Clin Nutr (2012) · Rct · n=737
PRIMARY ENDPOINTS ALL NULL: no effect on days with respiratory symptoms, probability of respiratory symptoms, or post-vaccination antibody titre
Probiotics and synbiotics in chronic constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Clin Nutr (2022) · Meta analysis
Probiotics overall increased stool frequency (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.37-1.04, p<0.00001) — but the effect was driven by Bifidobacterium lactis, 'not mixtures of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 or Lactobacillus casei Shirota'
A study into the effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea including Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with spinal cord injuries: a multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
EClinicalMedicine (2021) · Rct · n=359
PRIMARY ENDPOINT NULL: antibiotic-associated diarrhoea at 30 days 45% vs 42.1% (RR 1.071, 95% CI 0.8-1.4, p=0.639)
AREDS2 Formula has a higher evidence score (7/10 vs 5/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
No known interactions between AREDS2 Formula and L. casei Shirota have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.