Nutritional and Lifestyle Interventions for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Ângela Carneiro (Author) FMUP; Andrade, JP (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

Vol. 2017

Pages: 1-13

ISSN: 1942-0900

Publisher: Hindawi

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 50 Citations

Scopus - 58 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-DAS

DOI: 10.1155/2017/6469138

Abstract (EN): Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. In this narrative review, we will summarize the nutritional interventions evaluated in numerous observational studies and a few randomized clinical trials. The AREDS and AREDS2 studies demonstrated that supplements including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc may reduce the progression to advanced AMD, in some patients, by 25% in five years. This is one of the few nutritional supplements known to have beneficial effects in any eye disease. Lutein/zeaxanthin supplementation may have beneficial effects in some individuals whereas omega-3 fatty acids supplementation needs to be further investigated and supported by more evidence. Genetic factors may explain the different patterns of response and explain differences found among individuals. More importantly, a combination of lifestyle behaviors such as the avoidance of smoking, physical activity, and the adoption of a healthy dietary pattern like theMediterranean diet was associated with a lower prevalence of AMD. The adoption of these lifestyles may reduce the prevalence of the early stages of AMD and decrease the number of individuals who develop advanced AMD and consequently the onerous and climbing costs associated with the treatment of this disease.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13