Eat Oily Fish For Eyesight Protection

Filed in archive Diet , Eye Health , Studies on August 11, 2008

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Miranda Salia

Yet again, here is another study finding providing evidence that consumption of oily fish at least once a week may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - the leading cause of poor vision and blindness in our old age.

The main omega 3 fatty acids - docosahexaenoicacid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - in oily fish are the ones already known with protective effect.

The findings show that people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50% less likely to have wet AMD. There was no benefit from consumption of non oily white fish. There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD. People in the top 25% of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70% less likely to have wet AMD.

The findings is the first in Europe found to be consistent with the findings in the US and Australia - thereby reiterating the benefits of eating oily fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel for eye health protection.

The recommendation however doesn't include taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements to have the same effect.