| If you have age related macular degeneration | | | | foods that release sugar more slowly, and who |
| (AMD) you need to increase your fish oil dosage | | | | also took supplemental antioxidant vitamins and |
| by eating oily fish at least two times a week to | | | | minerals like vitamin C and zinc seemed to cut the |
| keep your eye disease in check according to new | | | | risk of disease progression by even more - as |
| research. It's the omega-3 fatty acids found in | | | | much as 50%. |
| fish like mackerel or salmon that slow (maybe | | | | Another finding of the work? |
| even halt) the progress of both the early and | | | | Age related macular degeneration that's advanced |
| later stages of the sight stealing disease. | | | | might be cut by about 8% just by substituting |
| In the United Kingdom a half a million people | | | | five slices of whole grain bread for white bread. |
| suffer from AMD. In the United Sates, estimates | | | | The surprise of the Tufts study came in the |
| suggest 1.75 million patients have the advanced | | | | finding that the supplements were |
| form of AMD, and another 7.3 million are in the | | | | counterproductive for subjects who had early |
| early stages of disease. | | | | AMD, even canceling out the benefits of the |
| The conclusions of this new work is based on | | | | healthy omega-3 fats and possibly even increasing |
| research that involved about 3,000 subjects who | | | | the speed of their disease progression. |
| took part in a trial on vitamins and supplements. | | | | Those who took antioxidant vitamins plus zinc, |
| Experts have already told us that omega-3s might | | | | and who had a high daily intake of beta-carotene |
| cut the risk of developing AMD by one third. This | | | | were 50% more likely to progress to advanced |
| new work shows that these healthy fats might | | | | disease. |
| actually help people who've already been | | | | The Tufts University researchers think that |
| diagnosed. | | | | omega-3 fatty acids provide protection from |
| The research showed that both the dry and wet | | | | AMD by altering the fat levels in the blood after a |
| forms of AMD were 25% less likely to progress | | | | meal that otherwise might be damaging to the |
| in those subjects who ate sufficient omega-3 | | | | body. |
| fatty acids. | | | | It's not clear if people should also take vitamin and |
| The research suggests eating two to three (but | | | | mineral supplements with a high omega-3 diet |
| no more than 4) servings of fish such as salmon, | | | | because of the mixed findings of the work. But |
| tuna, mackerel, shellfish or herring each week to | | | | supplements are not required if oily fish is |
| get the recommended levels of 650mg of | | | | consumed on a regular basis. |
| omega-3 a day. | | | | The good news is that this isn't the first study to |
| Girls and women of childbearing age, or those | | | | suggest that omega-3 fatty acids might help to |
| who are pregnant or breastfeeding, need to limit | | | | safeguard vision. Researchers from locations as |
| fish intake to two portions per week. | | | | far flung as Iceland and the Netherlands, as well |
| As with many good things, too much oily fish can | | | | as the U.S. seem to agree that omega-3 fatty |
| be harmful as many of these fish contain low | | | | acids have an impact on AMD. |
| levels of pollutants that can be just as bad for | | | | If you have questions or concerns for your own |
| your body in the long run. | | | | sight, talk with your doctor before making any |
| When it comes to vitamins and supplements and | | | | change to your diet, increasing your fish oil dosage |
| AMD, the Tufts study found those with advanced | | | | or adding supplements. |
| disease who ate a low-GI diet that consisted of | | | | |