You may be able to lower your risk of age related macular degeneration(AMD) by adding certain types of fish to your diet. Recently, researchers from
the Harvard School of Public Health found that the age related maculardegeneration may be associated with a high dietary fat intake. The results of
their study found that eating fish, such as tuna, four times a week, may reduce
the risk of macular degeneration. The subjects of the study were participants
in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who
did not have AMD at when the study commenced. After 12 years of follow-up, 567
people with a visual loss of 20/30 or worse were identified. Fat intake was
assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The study found:
·
Those
patients whose total dietary fat intake was in the highest quintile had over
one and a half times the risk of AMD as those whose fat intake was in the
lowest quintile,
·
Linolenic
acid consumption was directly associated with the risk of AMD,
·
High
intake of docosahexaenoic acid was associated with a modest reduction in the
risk of AMD.
·
Those
who ate four or more servings of fish a week were at a 35% lower risk of AMD
when compared to those who ate fewer than three servings of fish a week.
The researchers concluded that dietary fat
intake was associated with an increased risk of age related macular
degeneration (AMD) and that this may have been due to the presence of Linolenic
acid in the fat. They added that a high intake of fish, a rich source of
docosahexaenoic acid, may reduce this risk.
If you or someone you know has a family history of age related maculardegeneration or wishes to learn more about reducing their risk of AMD by a low
fat diet or eating fish, they are encouraged to schedule an eye
examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or
facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate
treatment plan if necessary.
D'Ambrosio
Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations
at 479 Old Union Turnpike,
Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts
01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner,
Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and
central Massachusetts area.
