Serum vitamin E levels negatively correlate with severity of age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis has been related to UV radiation and other factors that may promote increased oxidative damage to the retina. Patients with different AMD grading (n = 25) were compared with an age-matched group of AMD-free subjects (n = 15), both groups older than 60 years. A modification of the AMD grading system is proposed that allows patient grading and not single eye grading. AMD patients showed statistically significant lower serum levels of vitamin E and Zn than AMD-free subjects. Moreover, a negative correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient r = -0.815, P < 0.001) could be established between AMD grading of both the patients' eyes and serum …