Eye Health News

Vitamin D may help prevent AMD

British researchers believe that vitamin D may hep prevent or reverse age-related macular degeneration. The study results offered hope to patients dealing with the eye condition. Macular degeneration is caused by clogs in the blood vessels that connect to the retina which in turn causes inflammation and decreased vision and can lead to complete vision loss. Mice that were used in the study were fed a supplement of vitamin D and safflower oil every three days. In as little as six weeks, researchers noted signs of improvement in their vision as well as a reduction of the toxic molecule amyloid beta. Amyloid beta is a protein that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers stress that full clinical trials in humans need to be conducted before any recommendations for older adults to start taking vitamin D supplements can be made.  Sources of vitamin D include exposure to the sun, and foods like oily fish and dairy products. sun