Vitamin May Guard Against Macular Degeneration
NEW YORK (CBS/KDKA) -- New research reveals that Vitamin D may help protect women from a leading cause of blindness.
One in ten Americans over the age of 40 suffer from macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S.
According to a new study in the Archives of Ophthalmology, women under age 75 who have higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood are less likely to develop macular degeneration later in life.
"My theory is that Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties and inflammation has played a big part in macular degeneration," explains Dr. Shantan Reddy from NYU Langone Medical Center.
While sunshine helps boost the levels of Vitamin D in the bloodstream, the study suggests that eating foods that are rich in Vitamin D like leafy vegetables and fish is also necessary to get these benefits.
RELATED LINKS:
"Vitamin D Status and Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Postmenopausal Women," Archives of Ophthalmology (Vol. 129 No. 4, April 2011) More Health News KDKA-TV Health Team: Dr. Maria Simbra's Reports Macular Degeneration(National Library of Medicine) Patient Tutorial: Macular Degeneration (MedlinePlus)
