Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids shows to protect aged people against the start of a serious eye disease known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Earlier findings that eating omega-3-rich fish and shellfish may protect against advanced AMD. The observations are published in the December issue of Ophthalmology. The poll included nearly 2,400 seniors between the ages of 65 and 84 living in Maryland’s Eastern Shore region, where fish and shellfish are eaten routinely. After their food intake was assessed, participants underwent eye exams. About 450 had AMD, including 68 who had an advanced stage of the disease, which can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness. In the United States, AMD is the major cause of blindness in whites. Prior evidence suggested that dietary zinc is similarly protective against AMD, so the researchers looked to see if zinc consumption from a diet of oysters and crabs reduced risk of AMD, but no such association was seen.
Let's talk anything under the sun
