Our sight is grateful for the consumption of fish and acids Omega 3 but not that of tobacco. A study, published in 'Archives of Ophthalmology' indicates that a suitable diet can prevent age related macular degeneration, one of the main causes of blindness in old age; quite the opposite of cigarettes, which increase the probabilities of suffering this disorder.
With the passage of time or years, some people undergo blindness due to the degeneration of the macula, that part of the retina in charge of the central vision Because the treatment of this disorder, still leaves a lot to be desired, a group of investigators from the USA, has decided to study some of the factors that can cause or prevent its appearance. The medical profile of a total of 681 twins (men) of advanced age was evaluated, 222 with age related macular degeneration (AMD, in its English abbreviations) and 459 without it. Among other factors, the consumption of fish and fatty acid Omega 3 and cigarettes was analyzed on the part of these participants.
Fish and Omega 3
As published by the American Medicine Association magazine, the greater consumption of fish (two or more times per week) was associated to a diminution from the possibility of suffering this type of macular problem.
Omega 3, very present in the blue fish, also presented/displayed a protective role but this was reduced among the participants who took a rich linoleic acid diet, a type of Omega 6. Both fatty acid classes (Omega 3 and 6) perform an important function in the nutritional pyramid but it is fundamental that its presence be balanced and not excessive.
"It could be reasoned that doctors made dietetic recommendations for ocular health, which included the consumption of fish along with fruits and vegetables", propose the authors of the study.
A doubly greater risk
As far as tobacco was concerned, the specialists saw that "present smokers presented/displayed twice a greater risk to suffer AMD". Those that they had been smokers in the past had 1.7 times more probabilities than those that had never previously smoked.
Smoking is a toxic habit that "not only increases the oxidative stress but also the inflammatory response, two processes related to AMD". In this investigation, tabaquism was related to a third of the risk of suffering the ocular problem, whereas "a fifth part of the cases could have been prevented with a greater daily consumption of fish with Omega 3".
"Part of the loss in vision and blindness caused by AMD could be avoided paying more attention to healthful life habits", emphasized the American experts.
