Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Antioxidant and omega-3 supplements continue to be a simple, low-cost, effective therapy for AMD

A study designed to measure changes in visual function in subjects with atrophic (dry) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) found that three-quarters of the subjects receiving a nutritional supplement demonstrated stabilization or improvement of visual acuity at 6 months.

Dry, atrophic, or non-exudative, AMD is the most common form of macular degeneration.  Risk factors for dry AMD include:

• age greater than 50
• Caucasian race
• poor nutrition
• smoking
• atherosclerotic vascular disease
• genetics 
• sunlight exposure.

Multiple studies have suggested that nutritional factors can play a significant role in slowing the onset or limiting the effects of AMD.  The Taurine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Zinc, Antioxidant, Lutein (TOZAL) study tried to identify the potential benefits of a new supplement designed to limit the risk of AMD and progressive vision loss.

In this study, published in BMC Ophthalmology, 37 mixed gender patients (average age 76 years) at 5 independent study sites received a nutritional supplement specifically formulated to combat AMD.   This supplement included natural beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, zinc, and copper.   Results were compared to subjects in other tests who had been given placebos.

76.7% of subjects receiving the nutritional supplement demonstrated stabilization or improvement of visual acuity at 6 months.

Read other studies about AMD

Learn more about antioxidants and food sources for nutrients important for good eye health

SOURCE:  TOZAL Study: An open case control study of an oral antioxidant and omega-3 supplement for dry AMD, Cangemi, BMC Ophthalmology 2007, 7:3doi:10.1186/1471-2415-7-3.

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.

Data in US Twin Study also shows consumption of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps fight AMD

In a study of male twins, research shows that those who smoke have an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.  Men who ate more fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids had a lower risk of developing the disease.

Researchers collected data on 681 elderly male twins from the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council World War II Veteran Twin Registry.  The twins were given an eye exam and completed a food frequency and a risk-factor questionnaire.  222 of the twins had intermediate and late-stage age-related macular degeneration, while 459 of the twins had no signs of the disease.

The study showed that current smokers had a 1.9-fold increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, while past smokers had about a 1.7-fold increased risk.

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from fish reduced the risk of AMD, particularly if two or more servings of fish were consumed each week.

Although researchers noted that genetics are important in determining who will get AMD, lifestyle choices, such as smoking, play a role as well. 

What can you do to reduce your risk of AMD?  Eat a healthy diet, including omega-3 fatty acids from fish such as mackerel, lake trout, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.  Experts also recommend exercising, refraining from smoking, and maintaining a normal healthy weight.

Learn more about Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Read more studies about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for healthy vision

SOURCE:  Seddon, et al; Cigarette Smoking, Fish Consumption, Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake, and Associations With Age-Related Macular Degeneration; Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:995-1001.

Another great reason to eat fish: a French study has shown that eating fatty fish more than once a month is associated with a 60% reduction in risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is a medical condition associated with aging in which people gradually lose their sharp central vision. Central vision is needed for reading, recognizing faces, and seeing objects clearly.

A key finding in this study was the positive effect of fatty fish consumption (white fish intake was not significantly associated with AMD). Fatty fish included in this study were both fatty “blue” fish (fresh tuna, canned tuna without oil, mackerel, sardine, salmon) and fatty fish canned in oil (tuna, sardine, anchovy).

This population-based study from southern France reviewed nutritional data from a dietician-administered food-frequency questionnaire to assess the associations of dietary fat with the risk of AMD. AMD was classified from retinal photographs using the international classification and included neovascular age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy, soft indistinct drusen, and soft distinct drusen associated with pigmentary abnormalities.

Results of dietary fat analysis showed that high total, saturated, and monounsaturated fat intake were linked to increased risk for AMD, while total polyunsaturated fatty acid was not significantly associated with AMD. Review of fish intake showed that total and white fish intake was not significantly associated with AMD, but intake of fatty fish more than once a month was associated with a 60% reduction in AMD.

Read more about AMD

Learn about other food sources for nutrients important to help fight macular degeneration, including Omega-3 Fish Oil

Source: Dietary fat and the risk of age-related maculopathy: the POLANUT Study.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb 14; Inserm, Research Unit U593 for Epidemiology, Public Health and Development, Bordeaux, France, Universite Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France.