HIGH DIETARY ANTIOXIDANT INTAKE MAY REDUCE RISK FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Recently the results of a population-based cohort study were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The objective of the study was to investigate whether regular dietary intake of antioxidants is associated with a lower risk of incident AMD. There were over 4,000 participants, 55 years of age and older using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and follow-ups for eight years. The conclusion was that an above-median intake of four nutrients, beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc was associated with a substantially reduced risk (35%) of AMD in elderly persons. (JAMA, vol. 294, 2005)