Results from Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS-2) Announced: PRN Expects Significant Increase in Use of Macular Vitamin Benefits for Advanced AMD Patients

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., May 14, 2013 /CNW/ - PRN Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals, a premier producer of condition-specific omega-3 products and macular vitamins, today responded to the guidance from the long-term Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS-2). Based on the results from the study, PRN announced confirmation that their Canadian Macular Vitamin Benefits product is the only nutriceutical currently approved by Health Canada that also adheres to the AREDS-2 recommendations. Chief Medical Officer, Michael B. Gross, MD, noted, "Based on these results, a tremendous opportunity has arisen for Advanced Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients. As the only approved product in Canada that can meet the AREDS-2 recommendation, the immediate availability of Macular Vitamin Benefits will enable doctors to significantly impact the progression of the disease in their advanced AMD patients today."

The AREDS-2 study, led by Dr. Emily Chew (National Eye Institute, NIH), explored the use of nutriceuticals and macular vitamins in over 4000 patients suffering with advanced AMD, neovascular AMD, and Geographic Atrophy. Specifically, the study assessed a number of permutations to the AREDS formula including the following: (1) Inclusion of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin (10mg and 2mg, respectively), (2) inclusion of 1000mg omega-3 (650mg EPA/350mg DHA) in the ethyl ester form, (3) exclusion of beta-carotene, and (4) inclusion of low zinc. The study concluded that lutein/zeaxanthin demonstrated a 10% reduction in advanced AMD and a 26% reduction in the risk of progression to advanced/neovascular AMD for patients with low dietary intake of the two carotenoids. Additionally, because beta-carotene was correlated with increased risk of lung cancer in smokers (comprising greater than 50% of AMD patients) and resulted in no incremental benefit, it was recommended that beta-carotene be removed from the AREDS formulation in favor of lutein and zeaxanthin. The results also favored 25-80 mg doses of zinc in the final formulation.

The study findings and recommendations align with PRN's Canadian Macular Vitamin Benefits formulation, which has already removed beta-carotene, added 10mg lutein/2mg zeaxanthin, and incorporated 50mg of zinc.

About PRN Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals

PRN is a leading developer of condition-specific omega-3 products and nutritional supplements. Developed by doctors and recommended by world-renowned medical thought leaders, PRN's products are supported by medical evidence and offer exceptional quality and purity. Recently acknowledged on the Inc. 500|5000 list of fastest growing privately held companies, PRN has demonstrated three-year revenue growth of 375%.

Website: www.prnomegahealth.com

SOURCE: PRN Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals

Stefan Schoen, Vice President, Business Development, Phone: [phone]

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