(www.PreserveMacForte.com) Consuming oily fish could help older people avoid getting age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported News FIX recently.
According to a section of the article citing research, oily fish, which has lots of omega 3 fatty acids, could be helpful in maintaining the eye health of older people. Previous research has recognized a link between omega 3 fatty acids and lessened risks of AMD.
According to the article, researchers in Europe note that consuming oil fish no less one once per week might lessen the odds of AMD, a leading cause of vision impairment. The National Eye Institute, meanwhile, has said that there are two kinds of AMD, namely dry AMD and wet AMD. The former type is the more common of the two and can potentially progress into wet AMD. With dry AMD, light-sensitive cells located in the macula get damaged and adversely impact central vision. With wet AMD, irregular blood vessels form behind the retina and leak blood and other liquid that hurt the macula. Women seem to be more likely to get AMD than men, according to the article, which added that other risk factors include smoking, obesity and family history of the eye condition.
The article added that researchers associated with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and their colleagues in several other countries in Europe looked at the link between fish consumption and omega 3 fatty acids in the wet form of AMD. The researchers considered the dietary practices of the participants by holding interviews. According to the article, they discovered that consuming oil fish at least one time per week lessened the chances of getting wet AMD by 50%. In particular, participants were asked about their consumption of omega 3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Moreover, those who consumed in excess of 300 mg of EPA and DHA reduced their odds of getting wet AMD by 70%.
According to the article, AMD is the primary cause of vision loss among people older than 55 in the U.S.
Previous research has suggested that people can lower their odds of getting macular degeneration if they avoid obesity, keep their cholesterol at an ideal level and avoid high blood pressure.
Reference: http://www.newsfix.ca/2013/06/08/consuming-oily-fish-may-protect-eyesight-in-the-elderly/