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Smoking status: not checked. AREDS2 Formula: what these mean for you changes depending on whether you smoke or used to, and you have not told us. That check was skipped.
Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
AREDS2 Formula vs Peppermint Oil: Peppermint Oil has the stronger overall evidence (7 vs 7/10); the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Peppermint Oil wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Too few graded studies
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
180-225mg enteric-coated peppermint oil, 2-3 times daily before meals (a typical label dose, no cited trial of this supplement alone states a dose)
Before meals
Enteric-coated capsules
and 3 more not shown
Years — average follow-up was 6.3 years
Years
Long-term
Years
Within hours to 4 weeks
Days to weeks
Soon after dosing
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
The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.
BMC Complement Altern Med (2019) · Meta analysis · n=835
12 randomized trials, 835 patients pooled
Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
J Clin Gastroenterol (2014) · Meta analysis · n=726
9 randomized placebo-controlled trials, 726 patients
Western herbal medicines in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Complement Ther Med (2020) · Meta analysis
33 double-blind placebo-controlled trials reviewed; 17 evaluated peppermint oil
Peppermint Oil has a higher evidence score (7/10 vs 7/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.