Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) -- the most common cause of vision loss in the United States -- is a progressive disease that affects the macula, the area of the eye that's responsible for central vision. In 2001, a large clinical trial -- the Age-Related Eye Disease Study -- reported that a supplement containing high doses of zinc and the antioxidants beta carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E slowed the progression of AMD by 25 percent in people who had advanced disease. One study suggests that eating a diet chock full of these same nutrients might actually help prevent it.
Dutch investigators tracked the dietary intake, supplement use and eye health of 4,170 people age 55 or over for an average of eight years. At the start of the study, none of the subjects had AMD. By the end, 560 had developed the disease.
The researchers found that an above-average food intake of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc was associated with a 35 percent reduced risk of AMD. Subjects with lower-than-average intakes had a 20 percent higher risk. Antioxidants in supplements showed little effect (Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 28, 2005). What to do: Eat a wide variety of foods, rather than trying to hunt down especially antioxidant-rich ones. We don't know enough yet about how antioxidants work to justify eating large amounts of particular foods. It may be that the interactions of foods in the overall diet are more important. Also, if your diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you'll be getting plenty of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are thought to help protect the eye. Zinc is also found in oysters, meats and dairy products. 2006. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Media Services Inc.
