What Additional Dietary And Supplementation Considerations Are There For Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
Newer studies continue to find that lutein both alone and combined with other supplementation may reduce the risk of AMD progression. Lutien is sometimes recommended for smokers with AMD as a substitute for beta-carotene which is contraindicated for smokers. Only lutein and zeaxanthin are found as macular pigments in the retina and they may play a protective role. Results from observational studies and the natural presence of these carotenoids support the investigation of the effect of adding lutein and zeaxanthin to an AMD supplementation program. Dietary fat intake may also play a role in the progression of AMD. One multi-center study showed that higher vegetable fat consumption was associated with an elevated risk of AMD. The highest intakes of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and higher intakes of linoleic acid were associated with higher risk. High fish intake reduced risk of advanced AMD, while higher intake of Omega-3 fatty acids and fish combined with low linoleic acid
