Eating fish may lower risk of vision loss

Eating fish and taking a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids appear to lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss among elderly people. New treatments for AMD carry risks and treat only certain forms of the disease. To evaluate protective factors for AMD, American researchers studied 261 participants, aged 60 years and older, suffering from some sign of nonexudative AMD and visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least 1 eye. It was found that a high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a 38 percent reduction in the risk of late AMD, while eating fish twice a week was associated with a reduced risk of both early and late AMD. Higher fish intake was associated with a lower risk of AMD progression among subjects with lower linoleic acid intake. Processed baked goods, which are higher in some of these fats, increased the rate of AMD progression approximately 2-fold, and nuts were protective.Despite these results, the researchers do not recommend omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and fish intake for AMD prevention at this time because there are no randomised clinical trials to support their conclusions.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

Advertisement