ConsumerLab.com Tests and Compares Vision Supplements - Guides Consumers Through a Variety of Ingredients and Formulas

White Plains, New York — October 17, 2012 — Can a supplement improve your vision or prevent it from deteriorating? "The evidence shows that some supplements may help improve vision in people with macular degeneration and others can slow its progression," says Tod Cooperman, M.D., President of ConsumerLab.com. "The problem for a consumer is knowing if he or she should be taking a vision supplement and, if so, which one contains the correct dosage and combination of ingredients -- and at the best price." ConsumerLab.com's recent Product Review of Vision Supplements with Lutein and Zeaxanthin addresses these questions.

ConsumerLab.com's tests found that many lutein and zeaxanthin supplements meet important quality criteria regarding their contents. However, formulations were found to vary widely — the daily dose of lutein in products ranged from 4 to 45 mg, and the amounts of zeaxanthin ranged from 1 to 4 mg. The cost of the pills also ranged from just 12 cents to $1.10 per day. The new review provides information about 22 products which contain lutein and/or zeaxanthin, antioxidant pigments which occur in the macula of the retina. Ten of these products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com, 11 passed testing in ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program, and one is similar to another product which passed testing.

The Product Review of Vision Supplements with Lutein and Zeaxanthin is now available online on ConsumerLab.com. In addition to test results, the report discusses the amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin known be effective as supplements; how to take these to maximize absorption; which products provide lutein and zeaxanthin at lowest cost; foods which provide lutein and zeaxanthin; as well as potential side effects with lutein and zeaxanthin supplements. The report also explains what meso-zeaxanthin is and whether you need to get it from a supplement. In addition, the report compares formulas in supplements to the AREDS formula found to prevent age-related macular degeneration in a major study funded by the National Institutes of Health, and to the new AREDS2 formula currently under study. There is also a link to ConsumerLab.com's review of zinc supplements, which includes tests and reviews of two products with the original AREDS formula.

The following products are included in the report:

• Bausch & Lomb PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula
• Carlson Lutein
• Centrum Specialist - Vision
• CVS/Pharmacy Lutein
• Finest Nutrition (Walgreen) Lutein
• ICaps Eye Vitamin
• Jarrow Formulas Lutein
• Nature Made Extra Strength Lutein
• Nature's Bounty Lutein
• Nature's Life Lutein
• Nature's Sunshine Lutein
• Nutrilite Vision Health with Lutein
• Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin
• Solgar Lutein
• Source Naturals Lutein
• Spring Valley (Walmart) Natural Lutein Zeaxanthin
• Target Up & Up Lutein
• Twinlab OcuGuard Plus
• USANA Optimizers Visonex
• Vitamin Shoppe FloraGLO Lutein
• Vitamin Shoppe Ultimates Advanced Ocular Support
• Vitamin World Eye Guard Lutein

ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition, with online reports for over 900 products. The company is privately held and based in Westchester County, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Membership to www.ConsumerLab.com is available online.



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