[Legislation and risk potential of harmful use of complementary nutrition supplements]

Ophthalmologists have to deal with the prescription of commercial preparations containing essential nutrients and/or phytonutrients with antioxidant or other properties that are presented as able to protect the eyes against several degenerative diseases. This kind of preparation has to be in conformity with the Belgian Legislation on food and food products that mentions the nature and the quantity of active components they are allowed to contain. Nevertheless, they cannot mention allegations related to health or to the treatment of diseases. Carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin or lycopene are not covered by this Legislation as they are not pro-vitamin A. Therefore, they have to be considered as potentially harmful according to the Belgian Legislation dated March 3, 1992. Finally, their long-term toxicity has never been documented and no dietary recommendations exist as far as they are concerned. On the contrary, several warnings have been published about their chronic intake at supranutritional doses. Even if a complementary administration of these carotenoids is in some way meaningful, it is a pity that their commercial use has preceded the scientific data that remain necessary to collect about them. It seems preferable to advise "dietary" alternatives and avoid the use of unbalanced food complements.