Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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The European Commission is standing behind the claims that omega-3s help infants’ brain and vision development. The claims relate to both intake by the mother during pregnancy and lactation as well as directly by the baby.

The statements relate to specific compounds found in the fatty acids:

• ALA contributes to the brain development of children
• DHA has a structural and functional role in the retina and DHA intake contributes to the visual development of infants up to 12 months of age
• DHA has a structural and functional role in the retina and maternal DHA intake contributes to the normal development of the eye of the foetus and breastfed infants
• DHA has a structural and functional role in the brain and maternal DHA intake contributes to the normal brain development of the foetus and breastfed infants

Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/EC-to-confirm-infant-and-child-omega-3-claims

Not all fish oil is created equal, so consider your choices and be sure to go with a quality product.  The Natural Eye Care Vision Store has many products you can trust.

Researchers from Tufts University have found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in starchy carbohydrates can significantly reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The study, published in the journal Ophthalmology, is the first to calculate the combined effect of specific dietary nutrients and eating habits on a person’s risk for age-related macular degeneration.

During the study of 4003 participants in the ongoing Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), each dietary factor was assigned a percentile score; these scores were accumulated to find each participant’s compound score. The compound score was then evaluated for its association with the risk of AMD.

Researchers showed that vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and the omega-3 fatty acids known as D.H.A. and E.P.A. were linked to lower risk for AMD.

The lowest risk of AMD was found in participants who regularly consumed a combination of these nutrients as part of a low-glycemic index diet.

The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly during digestion, such as white bread and pastries, have a higher GI, as they release glucose into the bloodstream rapidly. Foods that break down more slowly, such as vegetables and proteins, have a lower GI value.

Read more about AMD on the Natural Eye Care website

Learn more about food sources for nutrients important for good eye health, including omega-3 fatty acids

SOURCE: “Dietary Compound Score and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study”, Chiu, et al, Ophthalmology, Volume 116, Issue 5, Pages 939-946.

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.

Myopia, also called near-sightedness, is a condition in which distant objects appear blurred. Myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries, and is present in over 30 million adults in the U.S.
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Researchers in Singapore have found that children who are breastfed are less likely to have myopia. Breast milk is the main source of many micronutrients including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is important for photoreceptor and cortical neuronal development, which play a major role in whether children become nearsighted.
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Researchers studied 797 children aged 10 to 12 as part of the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors of Myopia, including 418 children who had been exclusively breast-fed, and 379 who had not. They performed cycloplegic autorefraction and diagnosed myopia as spherical equivalent refraction of at least -.05 diopters.
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Children who were breastfed had a lower prevalence of myopia (62.0%) than children who were not breastfed (69.1%). This association held even after researchers controlled for factors such as the parents’ nearsightedness, maternal age at delivery and birth weight.
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Read more about myopia, including recommended vitamins and other nutritional products.
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SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 293 No. 24, June 22/29, 2005