Take the Right Steps to Fend Off Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD Forecasters Call for Wider Vitamin Use
In a newly published analysis, researchers predict that cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will nearly double in the coming decades, increasing from 9.1 million in 2010 to 17.8 million in 2050. The study also found that newer therapies have the potential to reduce AMD-related visual impairment and blindness by as much as 35%.
According to the authors, the use of antioxidant vitamins - specifically those used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) - is a key preventive strategy in slowing the progression of AMD from early to late stages. The authors point out that AREDS formulas are not widely used among patients with early-stage disease, and suggest that public prevention efforts should focus on expanding the use of antioxidant vitamins in people with early AMD, and making sure those people are getting the correct vitamin doses.
So for those who have been diagnosed with AMD, a first step is to talk with your eye care professional about high dose antioxidants, and to be consistent with supplementation when it is recommended.
Genetic Risk Factors May Be Critical
It's now understood that those with a family history of AMD have a greater risk of getting the disease. Scientists have identified a number of genes that seem to make some people more susceptible to AMD by creating inflammation or increasing oxidative damage. Adopting good dietary and lifestyle habits early may help prolong health and save eyesight later in life, especially for susceptible individuals.
Food Combinations Reduce AMD Risk
Foods provide many nutrients that may work together to help counter AMD from developing. Researchers from Tufts University developed a scoring system to examine the combined effect of nutrients, and applied this to the diets of people in the AREDS trial. Those whose diets were high in protective nutrients and low-GI (glycemic index) foods had a much lower risk of getting early and advanced AMD . A food's GI value is based on how fast its carbohydrates raise the body's blood sugar levels; low GI foods like whole grains have less impact on blood sugar fluctuations.
Protective foods included good sources of the AREDS trial nutrients: vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc, as well as the nutrients being tested in AREDS 2: the omega-3s from fish oil - DHA and EPA, plus lutein and zeaxanthin. (Another antioxidant included in the original AREDS clinical trial, beta-carotene, did not affect AMD risk levels).
Putting it All Together: Preventive Actions
- Avoid smoking - or take steps to stop if you do. Smokers with susceptibility genes have an even greater risk of AMD.
- Stay physically active. Helps keep weight and blood pressure down which may slow AMD progression.
- Wear protective sunglasses - those that block 100% of UV-B rays.
- Eat ample amounts of colorful fruits and vegetables - rich sources of antioxidants including lutein/ zeaxanthin (green leafy vegetables), and flavonoids.
- Enjoy fish, whole grains, beans and nuts. Fatty fish supply EPA and DHA, and whole grains and cereals are low-GI. Beans, cereals, fish and poultry provide zinc and protective B-vitamins, while nuts and beans can help keep cholesterol levels in check.
- Supplements - can help close dietary gaps for those who don't always consume the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies, 2-3 weekly servings of cold-water fish, or the higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin linked with better visual health.
- Rein DB et al. Forecasting age-related macular degeneration through the year 2050: the potential impact of new treatments. Arch Ophthalmol127:533-40, 2009.
- Chiu, C-J et al. Dietary compound score and risk of age-related macular degeneration in the AREDS. Ophthalmology 116:939-46, 2009.
- NEI (http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/congresstest/budget2009.asp)