Women might be able to prevent macular degeneration by consuming a diet with high levels of Vitamin D, new research says.
Macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease that can take away one’s vision, affects one in 10 Americans over the age of 40. But research from investigators at New York University’s Lagone Medical Center found Vitamin D can delay onset of the disease, perhaps because of the vitamin’s anti-inflammatory effect. Women have higher rates of developing macular degeneration, which some scientists believe is tied to estrogen loss.
Vitamin D can be found in natural sunlight, leafy vegetables and fish, as well as vitamin supplements. Researchers found women under 75 who had high levels of Vitamin D in their blood were less likely to develop macular degeneration later in life. The study was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
