Limiting refined carbohydrates in one’s diet may slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a recent study by researchers at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging of Tufts University, a research center supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The study supports findings that suggest men and women over the age of 55 who consume diets of higher-than-average Dietary Glycemic Index foods have an increased risk of AMD.
The Dietary Glycemic Index is an index which indicates the speed at which carbohydrates are broken down into glucose. Foods high on the glycemic index are associated with a faster rise (and subsequent fall) in blood sugar levels than those low on the glycemic index.
In the study, investigators analyzed dietary questionnaires of 4,757 non-diabetic men and women participating in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)—a nationwide eight-year study of men and women from 55 to 80 years of age, experiencing varying stages of AMD.
The study examined participants’ carbohydrate intake over a one year period to calculate the average dietary glycemic index level of foods eaten by the participants.
The researchers concluded that the group of participants who consumed the greatest amount of refined carbohydrates were 17% more likely to develop blinding AMD than the group that consumed the least amount of refined carbohydrates.
Refined carbohydrates refer to foods with their high-fiber components—the bran and the germ—removed. Examples include:
- White rice
- White bread
- Sugary cereals
- Pasta and noodles made from white flour
Unrefined carbohydrates contain the whole grain, including the bran and the germ, and are therefore higher in fiber.
Examples of these include:
- Whole-grain rice
- Whole-meal breads
- Unrefined oatmeal
- Whole-wheat pasta
Based on the study, the researchers conclude that limiting refined carbohydrates in the diets of at-risk elderly people could reduce the number of advanced AMD cases by 8 percent in five years.
The data indicates that it is beneficial for persons at risk of AMD, and especially those with advanced AMD, to consume less refined carbohydrates in their daily diets.
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Resources:
SOURCE: Chiu CJ, Milton RC, Klein R, et al. Dietary carbohydrate and the progression of age-related macular degeneration: A prospective study from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007;86(4):1210-8.
