Role of dietary fat in AMD

MedPage Today reported that, according to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, " fat-filled diet may put younger women at risk for future age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

After analyzing dietary fat intake measured in 1,787 women, researchers found that women younger than 75 with the highest total fat intake (about 43% of daily calories) had 70% higher odds of intermediate AMD than those in the lowest quintile (21% fat calories).

Notably, photographic assessment for AMD revealed that 4% of the women had intermediate disease -- defined by extensive drusen deposits on the retina or optic nerve head as well as pigmentary abnormalities.

But as in some prior studies, macular degeneration risk rose with omega-6 intake (OR 2.0 for high versus low quintiles, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.5) after adjustment for age, and other fat intakes. The same was true for younger and older women alike. Omega-6 may promote inflammation, "which is thought to contribute to retinal damage that may promote age-related macular degeneration," the researchers said.

Posted in: Macular Degeneration