Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness among older people. It is important to identify modifiable risk factors which could prevent or slow the progression of this chronic disease. Dietary fatty acid intakes have been investigated in epidemiological studies as it is plausible that individual lipids have properties which modulate cellular damage in the eye. This paper reviews epidemiological studies investigating links between fatty acids and AMD. Mixed evidence has related the sub-types of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids to AMD, but nearly all epidemiological studies have demonstrated some level of AMD protection from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (particularly long-chain fatty acids) and fish, with a tendency for a corresponding dampening effect with increased dietary omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Authors: Victoria Flood, Paul Mitchell
Institution: University of Wollongong
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1588585754