Eating more fruit might help protect the eyes against a leading cause of age-related blindness , say researchers.In a large study conducted involving men and women it was found that those who consumed at least three servings of fruit a day had a 36-percent lower risk of developing age-related maculopathy than those who ate less than one-and-a-half servings.
Previous studies have linked consumption of antioxidant vitamins and minerals to lower rates of ARM, and a recent study also showed taking high doses of some of these vitamins slowed the progression of the disease in those already diagnosed with it.Thus researchers looked at fruit and vegetable intake and vitamin-supplement use among about 77,500 women and 41,000 men taking part in larger health studies. All were at least 50 years old at the beginning of the studies and were followed regularly for more than 12 years.
A comparison of dietary records kept by the participants showed eating fruit was associated with a lower risk of developing the worst form of the disease, neovascular ARM, in both men and women. Interestingly, eating more vegetables did not show the same effect. Neither did intake of any of the individual antioxidant vitamins or carotenoids.
Researchers conclude, that further studies are needed to confirm their findings and that more research needs to be done to identify the relevant compounds in fruits.
