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Polyunsaturated Fats and Macular Degeneration
For the past several years there has been increased awareness of the health benefits attributed to a diet rich in unsaturated fats like the Omega-3 fatty acids. Most of those benefits involved heart disease and improved circulation.
Now there is some scientific evidence that consumption of those same healthy fats may prevent or delay onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
A newly-published study analyzed nearly 3,000 older adults over a five-year period. Those who consumed a diet that favored polyunsaturated fats (especially fresh fish) were compared to other folks who stuck with ordinary animal fats, regularly choosing beef over seafood.
Those who ate fresh fish 3 or more times per week were 40% less likely to develop macular degeneration, as opposed to those who consumed far less Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish was the key dietary source - not margarine, nuts or other foods loaded with polyunsaturated fats.
The authors claim that this is the first long-term study that correlates dietary fat intake with the development of macular degeneration. We know that dietary fats are critical to many metabolic functions inside the eye. Over time it is not unexpected that long-term consumption of unhealthy, saturated fats (like trans-fats) may be harmful to the cells responsible for good vision.
REFERENCE: Dietary Fatty Acids and the 5-Year incidence of age-related maculopathy. Archives of Ophthalmology 2006; 124:981-986.
Related Topics: WebMD Video: Fatty Fish Helps Heart Keep Its Rhythm, Good Fat, Bad Fat: The Facts about Omega-3
Technorati Tags: ARMD, macular degeneration, omega-3, dietary fat
Now there is some scientific evidence that consumption of those same healthy fats may prevent or delay onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
A newly-published study analyzed nearly 3,000 older adults over a five-year period. Those who consumed a diet that favored polyunsaturated fats (especially fresh fish) were compared to other folks who stuck with ordinary animal fats, regularly choosing beef over seafood.
Those who ate fresh fish 3 or more times per week were 40% less likely to develop macular degeneration, as opposed to those who consumed far less Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish was the key dietary source - not margarine, nuts or other foods loaded with polyunsaturated fats.
The authors claim that this is the first long-term study that correlates dietary fat intake with the development of macular degeneration. We know that dietary fats are critical to many metabolic functions inside the eye. Over time it is not unexpected that long-term consumption of unhealthy, saturated fats (like trans-fats) may be harmful to the cells responsible for good vision.
REFERENCE: Dietary Fatty Acids and the 5-Year incidence of age-related maculopathy. Archives of Ophthalmology 2006; 124:981-986.
Related Topics: WebMD Video: Fatty Fish Helps Heart Keep Its Rhythm, Good Fat, Bad Fat: The Facts about Omega-3
Technorati Tags: ARMD, macular degeneration, omega-3, dietary fat
