Research team finds link between zinc and macular degeneration
In studying post-mortem human eye tissue samples, researches found that maculae of eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) contained unusually high concentrations of zinc.
Because zinc is known to contribute to deposit formation in neurodegenerative diseases, such as such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, researchers suspected that zinc might be involved in deposit formation in AMD. One of the hallmarks of AMD is the accumulation of deposits, including drusen and basal laminar deposits, beneath the retina.
Using zinc specific molecular probes the researchers showed that subretinal deposits contain unexpectedly high concentrations of zinc. Zinc accumulation was especially high in the maculae of eyes with AMD.
The researchers concluded that zinc plays a role in sub-RPE deposit formation in the aging human eye and possibly also in the development and/or progression of AMD.
This finding might be particularly important because a 2001 study from the National Eye Institute found that high doses of zinc supplements, combined with antioxidants, may postpone the progression of AMD.
Source:
Lengyel I, Flinn JM, Peto T, Linkous DH, Cano K, Bird AC, Lanzirotti A, Frederickson CJ, van Kuijk FJ. High concentration of zinc in sub-retinal pigment epithelial deposits. Exp Eye Res. 2007;84:772-80.