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Smoking status: not checked. AREDS2 Formula, Vitamin A: 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 Vitamin A: Vitamin A has the stronger overall evidence (7 vs 7/10); they're alternatives for protect vision — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Vitamin A wins 1 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Limited support
2 of 9 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both AREDS2 Formula and Vitamin A have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
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
2500-5000 IU daily (retinol); up to 25000 IU (beta-carotene). These are typical label doses, not doses used in the cited trials. The one cited paper is in preterm infants, not adults.
With fat-containing meal, Any time of day
Mixed carotenoids or low-dose retinyl palmitate
and 3 more not shown
and 2 more not shown
Years — average follow-up was 6.3 years
Years
Long-term
Years
2-4 weeks
2-4 weeks
4-8 weeks
With chronic excess
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
Effects of primary or secondary prevention with vitamin A supplementation on clinically important outcomes: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
BMJ open (2024) · Meta analysis · n=1671672
Vitamin A did not reduce mortality in individually randomised trials (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.05; I²=32%; p=0.19; 105 trials; moderate certainty), and this effect was not affected by the risk of bias.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal, Birth, Child Health and Development Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients (2020) · Meta analysis · n=451723
IFA supplementation showed notable improvement in maternal anemia and the reduction in low birthweight, whereas LNS supplementation had no apparent effect on outcomes; further research that compares LNS and MMN supplementation could help understand differences with these commodities.
Vitamin A supplements for reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2017) · Meta analysis · n=7298
Five trials in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, none of whose participants received antiretroviral therapy. Four trials had 6995 women and one had 303.
Vitamin A has a higher evidence score (7/10 vs 7/10) and wins in 1 of 3 categories.
For protect vision, AREDS2 Formula has a higher relevance score (88 vs 82).
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.