London, June 19: Want to retain your sight as you
age? Well, eat a diet full of fruit and vegetables daily, say
researchers.
A new study, led by Indian-origin Usha Chakravarthy of
Queen`s University in Belfast, has revealed that antioxidants
found in fruit and vegetables may slow down sight loss in many
elderly people.
Age-related muscular regeneration (AMD), an incurable
eye disease which causes blurring of central vision, affect a
number of aged people across the world.
For their study, the researchers developed a new
antioxidant supplement and tested it on more than 400 people
across Ireland to check whether nutritional supplements helped
sharpen vision.
The subjects, with an average age of 77, took part in
clinical trials investigating whether rich antioxidants found
in fruit and vegetables could prevent progression to the more
serious late AMD.
The study showed the intake of high levels preserved
the muscular pigments, slowing down the progression from early
AMD to late AMD. In contrast, muscular pigments of
participants in a group given placebos declined steadily.
"These findings are important as this is the first
randomised controlled clinical trial to document a beneficial
effect via improved function and maintained muscular pigment.
"Further research is needed to confirm these findings
and to identify the numbers needed to treat to prevent one
case from progressing from early to late AMD," Chakravarthy
was quoted by `The Daily Telegraph` as saying.
Bureau Report