Eye friendly nutrients have the ability to not only decrease the risk of macular degeneration (MD), but may even have the potential to reverse it, reports George Torrey of the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of blindness in older people and is largely influenced by diet. In fact, certain natural supplements may help reduce your MD risk and prevent MD from getting worse.
Vitamin Antioxidants
The Salomon Research Group reports that MD is the result of excessive oxidation in the macula region of the retina. If oxidation goes unchecked, MD can result. The body's primary weapons against the cause of oxidation, which are free radicals, are natural dietary antioxidants. The National Eye Institute claims that a specific blend of antioxidant vitamins, known as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation can effectively reduce MD risk. The AREDS formula, which contains high levels of vitamin A, C, and E, along with copper and zinc, is widely available in supplement and health food stores.
Fish Oil
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have the ability to decrease MD risk, Elizabeth J Johnson of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University reports in her paper published in the June 2006 issue of "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Along with oxidation, plaque buildup in the arteries that feed the eye blood can contribute to MD development, Johnson adds. The omega-3 fats within fish oil can help prevent plaque formation and may be able to help remove artery plaque. Population wide studies have found a correlation between high fatty fish intake and a decreased risk of MD, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, no human clinical trials have tested fish oil supplements for MD risk. If you decide to take fish oil for MD, be sure to check with your doctor first.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol, the health boosting antioxidant in red wine may shield retinal cells from oxidation, reports Ohio State University's Robert E. King. In research published in the January 2005 issue of "Chemico-Biological Interactions," King found that adding resveratrol to human eye cells significantly reduced oxidation in a test tube. It may be resveratrol's retinal-protecting abilities that partly explain why people who drink red wine in moderation have a lower risk of MD. While resveratrol is found in red wine, higher concentrations can be obtained in supplement form.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Dry macular degeneration
- American Macular Degeneration Foundation: Improved Nutrition May Reduce the Risk of Macular Degeneration
- National Eye Institute: The AREDS Formulation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Potential role of dietary n--3 fatty acids in the prevention of dementia and macular degeneration
- "Chemico-Biological Interactions": Resveratrol reduces oxidation and proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibition
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 fatty acids
