Dec 18 2008

A Diet High in Antioxidants May Help Prevent Glaucoma in Black Women

Published by at 9:00 pm under Glaucoma,Nutrition

At the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Dr. JoAnn A. Giaconi reported that women who reported eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables appeared to have a lower likelihood of developing glaucoma.

The foods that seemed especially protective included fresh oranges, peaches, spinach, collard greens, and kale.

Dr. Giaconi presented results from a review of data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures.  In this study involving a subset of 584 black women, glaucoma was diagnosed in at least one eye in 77 participants.  Disc photos and suprathreshold visual fields were evaluated in conjunction with Block Food Frequency Questionnaires on the participants’daily food consumption.

The results?

  • Eating three or more servings of fruit or fruit juices daily decreased the odds of black women developing glaucoma by 79%
  • Eating one serving of collard greens or kale decreased the odds of glaucoma by 57%
  • Eating more than two servings per week of fresh oranges and peaches also significantly decreased the chance of developing glaucoma.

Researchers believe that the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables (vitamin A, alpha- and beta-carotene, folate, lutein, zeaxanthin) can potentially block oxidation stress that can lead to cell damage in glaucoma.

Read other studies about the benefits of consuming antioxidants

SOURCE:  Giaconi JA, et al. Nutritional associations with glaucoma among older black women. Paper presented at: The 18th Annual AGS Meeting; March 8, 2008; Washington, DC.

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