Antioxidant-Rich Diet Lowers Risk of Macular Degeneration in the Elderly

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Antioxidant-Rich Diet Lowers Risk of Macular Degeneration in the Elderly

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. In the United States, the number of patients disabled by late-stage AMD is expected to increase more than 50 percent in the next 20 years, affecting upwards of 3 million people.

While the pathophysiology of AMD is not clearly understood, oxidative stress has been suggested as a leading cause of the condition. A 2001 study found that high-dose antioxidant supplementation could slow the progression of AMD; however, there is little evidence examining the role antioxidants obtained through diet may play in the prevention of AMD.
In this population-based cohort study, a team of researchers in the Netherlands analyzed patient data from 4,170 middle-aged subjects, each of whom completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Subjects were followed for an average of eight years, during which time 560 persons were diagnosed with AMD.
Analysis of the data revealed that high dietary intake of four antioxidants - beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc - was associated with a 35 percent reduced risk of developing AMD. Conversely, a below-median consumption of all four nutrients was associated with a 20 percent increased risk of AMD. These associations were seen after adjusting for age, incidence of smoking, blood pressure levels, and other factors.
"This study suggests that the risk of AMD can be modified by diet, in particular, by dietary vitamin E and zinc," the scientists observed. They added, "Based on this study, foods high in these nutrients appear to be more important than nutritional supplements. Until more definitive data are available, this information may be useful to persons with signs of early AMD or to those with a strong family history of AMD."
Van Leeuwen R, Boekhoorn S, Vingerling JR, et al. Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of age-related macular degeneration. Journal of the American Medical Association Dec. 28, 2005;294(24):3101-3107.