Dr. Grossman’s Blog

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests a diet heavy in red meat may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia evaluated associations between red meat and chicken intake and AMD, in a cohort study of 6,734 people aged 58 to 69.  Meat intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire; bilateral digital macular photographs were taken and evaluated for AMD.  Of the group, 1,680 participants had cases of early AMD and 77 had cases of late AMD.

It was discovered that participants who ate 10 or more portions of red meat each week were nearly 50 percent more likely to experience deterioration of the retina.  Participants who consumed chicken at least three times a week reduced the risk by more than 50 percent.

Study authors suggested that “different meats may differently affect AMD risk and may be a target for lifestyle modification.”

Read more about food sources for nutrients that can help prevent macular degeneration

SOURCE:  “Red Meat and Chicken Consumption and Its Association With Age-related Macular Degeneration”, Chong, et al, American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 169(7):867-876.

Researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin have found that risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking and higher body mass index are also risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
 
The subjects in this study were 4,288 women age 63 years and older who were participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Sight Examination (WHISE).  Using a standardized questionnaire and examinations, researchers obtained information from the women on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors.  

919 of the women in the study were diagnosed with AMD (determined by standardized grading of fundus photographs).

The results were straightforward:  women who were identified as having four important risk factors for cardiovascular disease were also significantly more likely to have AMD.  These risk factors were:

• smoking
• use of calcium channel blockers
• diabetes, and
• greater body mass index.

Learn more about macular degeneration

Read other studies about macular degeneration research and prevention

SOURCE:  Cardiovascular disease, its risk factors and treatment, and age-related macular degeneration: Women’s Health Initiative Sight Exam ancillary study, Klein, et al, Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Mar;143(3):473-83. Epub 2007 Jan 10.

Consumption of lutein has been linked to a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  (read studies showing the benefits of lutein for eye health ).

In order to consume the levels of lutein recommended for good eye health many people take lutein supplements.  Results from a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggest that it may be beneficial to take supplements of lutein along with vitamin C.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin gave young healthy men and women supplements of lutein alone, or supplements of lutein combined with vitamins C or E.  It was noted that absorption of lutein varied greatly among individuals, regardless of whether they had taken lutein alone or with vitamins C or E.  However, it was determined that lutein was absorbed significantly faster when given simultaneously with vitamin C.

Learn about lutein and vitamin C supplements, as well as food sources for nutrients essential to good eye health

SOURCE:  “Lutein absorption is facilitated with co-supplementation of ascorbic acid in young adults”, Tanumihardjo, et al, J Am Dietetic Assoc 105:114-18, 2005.

A team of Harvard researchers found that women who took a combination of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 had a 35% to 40% lower risk of developing age related macular degeneration (AMD) than women who took a placebo.

A group of 5442 female health care professionals 40 years or older (of whom 5205 did not have a diagnosis of AMD at the beginning of the study) received either a combination of folic acid/B6/B12 or a placebo.

After more than seven years of treatment and follow-up, 137 women were diagnosed with AMD.  Of these 137:

• 55 had been taking the supplements; 82 had been taking the placebo.
• 70 had ‘visually significant AMD’, including 26 who had been taking the supplements and 44 who had been taking the placebo.

Researchers concluded that daily supplementation with folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) may reduce the risk of AMD.

Learn about good food sources for nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin B

Find nutritional products and supplements to supply folic acid and vitamin B

SOURCE:  “Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women”, Christen et al, Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):335-341.

University of Liverpool scientists claim that macular degeneration could be reduced by up to 20% by increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and nuts in the diet.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness, as individuals gradually lose their central vision due to the failure of cells in the macula (the light sensitive membrane at the center of the retina).

Professor Ian Grierson, Head of Ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool, said: “Poor eating habits have a huge impact on health in general and the health of your eyes is no exception. Eye problems such as AMD, cataract and even glaucoma can all be affected by what we eat. But a relatively minor change in diet – adding a little more fruit into our meals – can make a profound difference and can keep eye diseases like AMD at bay for up to 20% longer.

“There are of course other risk factors related to AMD such as age, light exposure, smoking and being overweight. But if we can improve the kind of food that we eat, we could dramatically reduce the number of people who may suffer from eye diseases in the future.”

Grierson recommends incorporating fruits and nuts as minor additions to what we already eat, such as peaches with ham or ginger with melon.  He believes this will help slow down or even prevent the degeneration process by increasing micronutrient, vitamin and antioxidant intake in the diet.

Learn more about food sources for nutrients important to eye health

SOURCE:  “Diet Could Reduce Onset Of Eye Disease By 20%”, University of Liverpool (2009, February 18),  http://www.liv.ac.uk/news/press_releases/2009/02/Diet-could-reduce-onset-of-eye-disease.htm

AMD associated with higher Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Waist-Hip Ratio

People with early or intermediate stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) make up a large and growing segment the elderly population.

Researchers interested in identifying preventative measures to help this group lessen their risk of advanced AMD conducted a survey of 261 participants from a hospital-based retinal practice.  Participants were aged 60 years or older, with some sign of nonadvanced AMD and visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least 1 eye.

The results of the study showed that obesity (measured in body mass index) greatly increases the risk for progression to the advanced forms of AMD. 

In addition:

• Higher waist circumference was associated with a 2-fold increased risk for progression, with a significant trend for increasing risk with a greater waist circumference
• Higher waist-hip ratio also increased the risk for progression
• More physical activity tended to be associated with a reduced rate of progression (25% reduction for 3 times per week vigorous activity compared with no activity)

Study authors believe that the results provide new information regarding modifiable factors for individuals with the early or intermediate stages of this disease.  Although overall and abdominal obesity increased the risk for progression to advanced AMD, increasing physical activity tended to decrease risk.

Learn other natural preventative measures to lesson your risk of AMD

SOURCE:  Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Seddon, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121:785-792

A recent study shows that higher doses of vigorous exercise are associated with lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

Paul Williams, an epidemiologist in Berkeley Lab’s Life Sciences Division studied 41,708 runners (29,532 men and 12,176 women) more than seven and a half years.  He tracked their average daily running distance (kilometers per day), their cardiorespiratory fitness, their body mass index (BMI), cigarette use, and diet.  This data was collected in the National Runners’ Health Study.

The results?

• Men who reported having AMD were significantly more likely to have once smoked cigarettes
• AMD risk was greater in the men and women who consumed more meat and less fruit
• Men and women who reported having AMD ran for exercise significantly less than those who remained unaffected
• The relative risk for AMD decreased 10% per km/d increment in running distance.  Compared with the men and women who averaged less than 2 kilometers/day:

           - those averaging 2 to 4 kilometers/day had 19% lower adjusted risk of AMD

           - those averaging 4 kilometers/day had 42% to 54% lower adjusted risk of AMD

Williams concluded that higher doses of vigorous exercise such as running are associated with lower incident AMD risk independent of weight, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cigarette use.

Learn more about macular degeneration (AMD)

SOURCE:  Prospective Study of Incident Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Relation to Vigorous Physical Activity during a 7-Year Follow-up, Williams, Paul, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2009;50:101-106.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Researchers have shown that high dietary intake of beta carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc may substantially reduce the risk of AMD.

Scientists at the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands investigated whether regular dietary intake of antioxidants is associated with a lower risk of incident AMD.

Participants in the study included 7983 inhabitants aged 55 years or older in a middle-class suburb of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A baseline home interview and a series of examinations at the study center were conducted from 1990 until 2004. Food intake was assessed with a food questionnaire, and participants were evaluated for incident AMD (defined as soft distinct drusen with pigment alterations, indistinct or reticular drusen, geographic atrophy, or choroidal neovascularization). Incident AMD occurred in 560 participants after follow-up exams (conducted 8 years later, on average).

Study results showed that participants who consumed vitamin E and zinc were less likely to have AMD.

An above-median consumption of all 4 nutrients studied (beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc) was associated with a 35% reduced risk of AMD.

Learn more about macular degeneration (AMD)

Find excellent food sources for beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc

SOURCE: Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of age-related macular degeneration, Leeuwen et al, JAMA, 2005 Dec 28;294 (24):3101-7.

In people with the highest level of consumption of lutein and xeaxanthin (from leafy greens, eggs, red and yellow peppers), risk of Macular Degeneration (AMD) was 35% of the risk in people who ate less greens. Zinc was also protective. This in a study by J.S. Tan, et al. in Opthalmology, February 2008.

For more related research studies, see the “Research” section at http://www.naturaleyecare.com”>Natural Eye Care for Macular Degeneration</a>

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating one portion of omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish per week may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by over 50 percent.

2,275 people over 65 years of age participated in the EUREYE Study. They were given eye exams and completed a food frequency questionnaire.

Researchers found that oily fish was consumed less than once per week by 64% of the study population, once per week by 25%, and twice per week or more by 12%.

Those eating oily fish at least once per week had a 50% reduced risk of a type of AMD called neovascular AMD (NV-AMD), while those eating oily fish at least twice per week had a 58% reduced risk.

Good choices for fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids are cold water oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

Read other research showing the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy vision

Learn more about natural omega-3 vision supplements

SOURCE: Augood, et al; Oily fish consumption, dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intakes, and associations with neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 2, 398-406, August 2008.