A new study finds that high dietary intake of nutrients with antioxidant properties reduces the risk of early AMD in those at high genetic risk. Therefore, clinicians should provide dietary advice to young susceptible individuals to postpone or prevent the vision-disabling consequences of AMD. The etiology of AMD is complex with both genetic...

Lutein-only and zeaxanthin-only supplementation for 12 months each increased macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and improved visual function in men with mild to moderate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular pigment is composed principally of 2 isomeric carotenoids, lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Zx), and the L metabolite meso-Zx (...

The findings of a meta-analysis indicate that dietary lutein and zeaxanthin is not significantly associated with a reduced risk of early AMD, whereas an increase in the intake of these carotenoids may be protective against late AMD. Dietary antioxidants, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, are hypothesized to have the capacity to modulate...

A genetic variation of the transferrin gene is associated with increased risk of AMD in smokers. Oxidative stress is a major environmental risk factor of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) AMD is associated with the increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be produced in reactions catalyzed by iron present in the retina....

Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and fish decreases the risk of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in women, according to a new study. Cardiovascular disease and AMD have been hypothesized to share similar mechanisms and risk factors. Dietary intake of fish, and specifically omega-3 fatty acids concentrated in fish (...

Modifying lifestyle behaviors of diet, smoking, and physical activity may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as much as 3-fold, according to a new study. The population included 1313 participants (aged 55-74 years) in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study, an ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative...

Fish and shellfish consumption decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the major dietary and structural omega-3 LCPUFA of the retina, has the capacity to modulate processes implicated in AMD...

Consumption of 2 and 4 egg yolks per day for 5 weeks increases macular pigment concentrations in older adults with low macular pigment taking cholesterol-lowering statins, according to a new study. Lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of dry age-related macular degeneration because of their photo-oxidative role as macular pigment....

A new epidemiologic study finds that diets high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and may mask the protective influences of consuming diets high in omega-3 PUFAs (fish oil). Previous epidemiological studies generally indicate a higher prevalence or...

A new study confirms earlier reports that visual impairment increased all-cause mortality in older persons. Visual impairment has consistently been associated with a higher risk of dying. Visual impairment is also reportedly associated with many factors also linked to increased mortality. These include unintentional injury, depression,...