Nutrition and Eye Health

Nutrition+and+Eye+Health%0d%0aDr.+Betty+J.+Larson%2c+LRD%2c+FADA+Concordia+College+Moorhead%2c+MN+56562%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cObjectives%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Researchers+have+suggested+that+six%0d%0anutrients+are+correlated+with+maintaining+eye+health+%e2%80%93+Vitamins+C+and+E%2c+carotenoids+lutein%2c+zeaxanthin%2c+and+beta-carotene+and+the+mineral+zinc.+%e2%80%a2+On-line+dietary+risk+assessment+called+Eye+on+Nutrition+can+be+accessed+at+www.aoa.org%2fEyeOnNutrition%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+A+leading+cause+of%0d%0ablindness+worldwide+and+the+most+costly+item+on+the+Medicare+budget+in+the+US.+%e2%80%a2+Risk+factors+include+smoking%2c+exposure+to+sunlight%2c+diabetes%2c+and+inflammation.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Cataracts+develop+when+lens+proteins+are+damaged%0d%0awhich+causes+them+to+become+cloudy+or+opaque.+%e2%80%a2+Oxidative+stress%2c+principally+from+ultraviolet+light+is+thought+to+play+a+crucial+role+in+development+of+cataracts.+%e2%80%a2+Two+types+%e2%80%9cnuclear%e2%80%9d+and+%e2%80%9ccortical%e2%80%9d+according+to+their+location.+Less+common+is+subcapsular%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0c%0cAge-Related+Macular+Degeneration%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+A+leading+cause+of+acquired+blindness+and+vision+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2%0d%0aimpairment+among+elderly+Americans.+Prevalence+increases+dramatically+with+age+Occurs+as+%e2%80%9cwet%e2%80%9d+or+%e2%80%9cdry%e2%80%9d+Dry+AMD+is+characterized+by+perceptual+%e2%80%9choles%e2%80%9d+or+inconsistencies+in+the+center+of+the+visual+field.+This+is+due+to+a+breakdown+of+cells+and+membranes+in+the+macula%2c+a+tiny+area+at+the+center+of+the+retina+in+the+back+of+the+eye.+The+macula+contains+a+dense+accumulation+of+cone+cells+which+are+responsible+for+providing+color+and+fine+detail+in+the+center+of+the+visual+field.%0d%0a%0d%0a%e2%80%a2%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0c%0cMacular+Degeneration+Continued%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+When+retinal+cells+are%0d%0alost%2c+they+do+not+regenerate%2c+thus+the+vision+loss+from+macular+degeneration+is+irreversible.+%e2%80%a2+Only+proven+way+to+delay+progression+of+dry+AMD+is+vitamin%2f+mineral+intake.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cRisk+factors+for+AMD%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2%0d%0aIncreased+age+Female+gender+Lighter+iris+color+Race+Smoking+Sunlight+Exposure%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cVitamin+C+and+Cataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Sources+of+C+include%0d%0acitrus+fruits%2c+potatoes%2c+berries+and+green+veg.+%e2%80%a2+As+an+antioxidant%2c+vitamin+C+is+useful+in+protecting+the+lens+against+free+radical+reactions+triggered+by+UV+light.+%e2%80%a2+C+is+water-soluble+so+penetrates+the+layers+of+the+lens+to+protect+the+area.+%e2%80%a2+Lens+has+20x+more+C+than+the+plasma.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cVitamin+C+and+Cataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Researchers+have+found+consistent%0d%0aassociations+between+higher+dietary+or+plasma+vitamin+C+and+a+reduced+risk+for+cataracts.%0d%0a%e2%80%93+Nurses+Health+Study+%e2%80%93+Beaver+Dam+Eye+Study%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cVitamin+E+and+Cataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Vitamin+E+is+found+in%0d%0athe+membranes+of+all+cells+where+it+protects+them+from+oxidative+damage.+%e2%80%a2+Not+concentrated+in+the+eye+like+C+but+a+higher+intake+can+increase+the+amount+of+E+in+the+retina.%0d%0a%0d%0aMARGARINE%2c+OILS%2c+SEEDS%2c+NUTS+CONTAIN+VITAMIN+E%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cVitamin+E+and+Cataracts%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Mixed+results+from+studies+on+Vitamin+E+and+the%0d%0aeye.+%e2%80%a2+Researchers+reported+from+the+Beaver+Dam+Eye+Study+there+was+a+beneficial+correlation+between+blood+vitamin+E+concentration+and+cataract+risk.+%e2%80%a2+Low+blood+vitamin+E+concentration+has+also+been+associated+with+an+increased+risk+of+cataracts.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCataracts+and+Other+Nutrients%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Australian+researchers%0d%0afound+a+reduced+risk+of+nuclear+cataracts+with+higher+dietary+intakes+or+other+nutrients.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cVitamins+and+AMD%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Concentrations+of+vitamin+E+have+been%0d%0afound+to+be+protective+against+age-related+macular+disease+in+some+observational+studies+but+not+in+all+studies.+%e2%80%a2+Similarly+observational+studies+have+generally+not+led+to+correlations+between+vitamin+C+and+AMD+whether+based+on+plasma+concentration+or+dietary+intake.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cClinical+Trials+and+AMD%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+In+the+Age-Related+Eye%0d%0aDisease+Study+by+the+National+Eye+Institute+tested+antioxidant+on+AMD+and+cataracts+researchers+found+antioxidants+retarded+progression+of+AMD+%e2%80%a2+Supplement+given+of+C%2c+E%2c+beta-carotene%2c+zinc.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCarotenoids+in+Eye+Health%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+The+eye+selectively%0d%0aand+exclusively+concentrates+the+yellow-color+carotenoids+lutein+and+zeaxanthin+in+a+layer+of+retinal+tissues+than+overlies+the+macula+region.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCarotenoids+in+the+Retina%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Researchers+believe+that+these+two%0d%0acarotenoids+specifically+absorbs+near-to-UV+blue+light%2c+the+highest-energy+and+therefore+the+most+damaging+wavelength+of+light+that+actually+reaches+the+retina.+%e2%80%a2+Another+theory+is+that+they+serve+as+an+antioxidant+defense+against+free+radicals.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cMacular+Pigment+Density%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Capacity+to+increase+macular+pigment%0d%0adensity+has+been+demonstrated+using+spinach+as+a+lutein-rich+food+or+corn+as+a+zeaxanthin-rich+food.+%e2%80%a2+Eye+Disease+Case-Control+Study+researchers+found+AMD+risk+was+significantly+lower+with+increasing+serum+concentrations+of+lutein+%2b+Zeaxanthin.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0c%0c%0cSources+of+Lutein+in+mg+in+1Cup%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2%0d%0aSpinach+cooked+13.3+Raw+Cabbage+10.2+Broccoli+cooked+3.4+Peas+cooked+3.2+Raw+Spinach+1.8+Raw+Broccoli+1.4+Raw+Greens+1.1+Green+Pepper+.9%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cSources+of+Zeaxanthin+in+mg+of+1C%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2%0d%0aOrange+Pepper+1.5+Corn+.8+Cooked+Spinach+.4+Romaine+.1+Raw+Spinach+.1+Tangerine+.1%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cSources+of+Lutein+%2b+Zeaxanthin+in+mg+in+1C%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2+%e2%80%a2%0d%0aKale+26.5+Spinach+cooked+12.6+Broccoli+4.0+Spinach+raw+3.6+Green+Peas+2.2+Raw+Broccoli+2.1+Corn+1.5+Brussels+Sprouts+1.1%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c