Eating Fish May Preserve Eyesight
By: Amy G. Hutchinson, 2007 June 05Researchers found that grouping who ate a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids -- commonly found in tuna, salmon, and other oily fish -- were nearly 40% less possible to develop AMD than those who ate soft of this heart-healthy type of fat. Overall, uptake more than one 4-ounce delivery of fish per week was associated with the minimal risk for AMD. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of permanent sensation loss among people over 65 in the U.S.
Fatty Acids May Foil Eye Disease
The study, publicized in the Archives of Ophthalmology, implicated more than 4,500 men and women who were between the ages 60 and 80 when they enrolled in 1992 finished 1998. At the start of the study, the participants filled out a questionnaire detailing the foods they ate regularly and were examined for AMD.
After adjusting for factors such as total calories consumed, age, race, and smoking history, researchers found that those who consumed the maximal levels of omega-3 fatty acids, primarily from fish, were 39% less likely to have AMD. Compared to those who ate the least fish, those who ate the most or at least two or more servings of baked or cooked fish also had a 39% lower risk of AMD.
People who ate fish less often also seemed to enjoy some of these benefits. The study showed that those who ate more than one 4-ounce serving of baked or broiled fish per week also had a 35% lower risk of AMD.
Researchers from the Age-Related Disease Study Group in Rockville, Md., who conducted the study, say omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of AMD in a tracheophyte of ways, such as promoting intelligent blood tube function, influencing which genes turn on and off, and reducing inflammation.
Together with old studies on omega-3 fatty acids and AMD, researchers say the results suggest that changing diet to let more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may fall the risk of the disease.