Macular degenaration

Prevention of macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is usually something  that occurs in old age but some studies have shown that it can start quite earlier in life and maybe in my opinion can be prevented. Some studies have shown an improvement with small amount of macular degeneration and even reverse the problem. They have shown that with taking specific anti-oxidants. Many studies have shown in vitro and with animal studies as well as humans that there is a vascular improvement in taking the anti-oxidants and other nutrients

There are many anti-oxidant that would help but specifically for the eyes many studies have shown improvement with, multivitamins, the carotenoids (found in carrots and orange foods such as pumpkins, also dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and other greens), lutein and zeaxanthin (found in blueberries, green leafy vegetables, eggs and corn with the highest amount). Corn has the highest amount of lutein and orange peppers the highest in zeaxanthin (as well as krill oil). Lutein and zexanthin is also found in kiwi fruit, grapes, spinach, orange juice, zucchini (or vegetable marrow and other form of squash family).

In a study (3) they used resveratrol supplement (red grapes) with a combination of lutein and zexanthin, with quercetin (an anti-inflammatory found in fruits especially in apples, which also increased the absorption of resveretrols, D3 which together with other minerals helps the anti-inflammatory cascade via the gene activation or de-activation. Ferulic acid a compound found in the plant cell wall also helps with the absorption of nutrients into our own cells. Ferulic acid is found the highest in seeds of coffee, apple, artichoke, peanut, and orange, as well as in both seeds and cell walls  rice, wheat, oats, the Chinese water chestnut and pineapple. Flax seed has got the highest concentration of ferulic acid glucoside. Taurine (2), which is an amino acid usually connected with the health of the heart and the gall bladder for the production of bile. Taurine is found in milk, fish, meat and breast milk (quite important for the health of the eye in babies). The study (1) took tests of a group of people who had the beginning or some problems with the macular and after giving the combination of the anti-oxidant above for a period of 6 weeks, the macular improved and repaired itself. I am a firm believer that prevention is better than cure so my suggestion is having a varied diet with plenty of colourful fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy protein can prevent oxidation and damage to the vascular system, not only for the eyes but the entire body. Eating non fried oily fish or taking good source of omega 3 with the right anti-oxidants to prevent oxidation, such as vitamin E and C is a good way to live healthy and have a good quality life at the present moment and for later in life..

Reference:

1. Cho E. et al. (2004). Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Rch Ophthalmol, Jun;122 (6):883-92.

 

1. Imaki H. etc , (1987) Retinal degeneration in 3-month-old rhesus monkey infants fed a taurine-free human infant formula. Neurosci Res.;18(4):602-14.

 

1. Richer S. et al (2013).  Observation of Human Retinal Remodeling in Octogenarians with a Resveratrol Based Nutritional Supplement. Nutrient, 5: 1989-2005.

 

1. Sommerburg O. et al. (1998). Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes.Br J Ophthalmol, 82:907–910.