PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels vs Thorne Zinc Picolinate 15 mg

Choose PreserVision if…

• Adults with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, whose eye doctor recommends AREDS2
• Current or former smokers who need a beta-carotene-free AREDS formula
• People who want the exact NEI-tested doses in small softgels
• You care most about efficacy

Choose Thorne if…

• People with low zinc intake, including those eating mostly plant foods
• Athletes and label-conscious buyers who want NSF-certified products
• Anyone who wants single-nutrient zinc at a modest dose
• You care most about quality & purity, value, experience, transparency

AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels

• Matches the NEI AREDS2 formula dose for dose: 500 mg C, 400 IU E, 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin
• Backed by large NEI trials: about 25% lower risk of advanced AMD over five years in higher-risk patients
• Beta-carotene free, so it suits current and former smokers
• Small MiniGels that buyers find easy to swallow
• 80 mg of zinc is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit, and AREDS2 found 25 mg worked as well
• No proven benefit for healthy eyes, early AMD or cataracts
• About $0.52 a day at the brand's price, more than store-brand compare-to versions
• Contains gelatin, carmine and titanium dioxide; the only published OcuSorb absorption study was funded by its maker

Zinc Picolinate 15 mg

• 15 mg dose close to the RDA and well under the 40 mg upper limit
• Minimal excipients; gluten-, dairy- and soy-free
• Listed in NSF's certification database; Amazon listing says NSF Contents Certified
• Small 18 mm capsules
• No copper included for long-term use
• Picolinate's absorption advantage is a brand claim NIH does not confirm
• About $0.25 per day, pricier than drugstore zinc
• Two capsules a day plus diet can approach the upper limit