|
|
|
|
Macular Degeneration |
|
Eyesight II |
|
MACULAR DEGENERATION AND OPTIMUM NUTRITION If there ever was a clear
example of an ounce of prevention beating a pound of cure, it would be macular
degeneration. "Macula" means "spot," which in this
case is on the retina. This is where visual images are focused on the
inside of the back of the eye. A lack of antioxidants in the diet puts
the retina at risk, causing premature aging and deterioration. Therefore,
consuming generous amounts of the body's principle protective antioxidants,
namely vitamins C and E, the carotenes, and small amounts of the mineral,
selenium, will help protect your sight. Start now, for macular
degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in the elderly. If you have already been
diagnosed with the condition, your doctor has probably told you that there is
no medical treatment to rely on. If so, then there is no reason not to
try nutrition. If antioxidants can prevent macular degeneration, larger
amounts of them may help reverse it.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness in the Western World. There is evidence as well as controversy as to what extent vitamins can help.
The Eye Disease Case-control Study and other studies found that a higher dietary intake of carotenoids was associated with a lower risk for AMD.
(Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD et al. Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. JAMA 1994 272: 1413–1420)
Likelihood of macular degeneration is reduced by about half in persons with larger amounts of carotenoids in the blood.
Carotenoids are found in orange and green leafy vegetables.
(Eye Disease Case Control Study Group. Risk Factors for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Archives of Ophthalmology; I 10:#12, 1701-1708, December 1992.)
Macular degeneration occurs twice as often in patients with low levels of vitamin E.
(West S, Vitale S, Hallfrisch J et al. Are Antioxidants or Supplements Protective for Age-Related Macular Degeneration? Archives of Ophthalmology 112:2, 222-227, February 1994.)
A trial with 3,640 participants showed that vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene and zinc reduced risk of progression to advanced age related macular degeneration by 25% after six years in those already showing evidence of disease.
(Age-related eye disease study research group. [AREDS] A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:1417–1436.)
The AREDS formulation was a relatively low dosage:
500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C (a very low amount)
400 international units of vitamin E
(the DL synthetic form was used. Natural E works far better.)
15 mg beta-carotene
(a single large carrot has more than that)
80 mg zinc as zinc oxide
(the form used in skin cream; zinc gluconate is far better absorbed.)
2 mg copper as cupric oxide
(probably a minor a factor)
And even these low levels of non-ideal forms "reduced risk of progression to advanced age related macular degeneration by 25%."
In a follow-up study [AREDS 2] they actually eliminated the carotene, and lowered the zinc amount.
Higher doses and more appropriate forms would likely get better results
There is strong institutional resistance to thousands of milligrams of vitamin C, natural (D-alpha) vitamin E, and plentiful beta-carotene. This is in spite of the facts that vitamin C does not cause kidney stones; Natural (D-alpha) vitamin E is the only form the body can use; and beta-carotene has falsely been accused of harming long-term smokers. Smoking is what harms long-term smokers
Too much vitamin C is indicated by very loose bowels. Excessive carotene, which is the orange color in
carrots, is indicated by orange colored skin. So if you look like a
pumpkin stuck in the outhouse, take less. Ah, but if you don't, then
you can take more. Vitamin E is so safe that
premature babies are specifically given it to prevent oxygen damage to their
retinas. These infants require about 200 International Units a day to be
effective. That is the adult dose equivalent of about 7,000 I.U. of
Vitamin E daily! Little clinical need has ever existed in adults for even
half of that amount. However, the US RDA of vitamin E is only 10 - 15 I.U.,
and that is not enough to stop macular degeneration in a hamster.
Between 600 and 1,200 I.U. daily is a common therapeutic level for a person. It
is only possible to obtain such amounts by taking a supplement. Selenium increases the
effectiveness of Vitamin E in the body. Only a little selenium is
needed, probably between 50 and 200 micrograms daily. Too much selenium
can indeed be toxic, and amounts over 600 mcg daily must be avoided. Zinc is another important
mineral for the retina. Up to 660 milligrams of zinc a day has been used
in some studies, but there is an eventual risk of copper deficiency and
anemia if such a high level were maintained. Just one-fifth of that
amount, about 100 mg per day, may be enough to slow or stop the process of
macular degeneration. The amino acid chelate form of zinc is very well
absorbed and probably good to look for. That, or eat a lot of mollusks
(oysters in particular). Zinc deficiency in Instead of beta carotene
supplements, I would prefer carrot juice. Yes, it contains a great deal of
beta carotene: probably 40,000 I.U. or more per average glass. But it
also contains dozens of other carotenes, not just the beta form. Freshly
made from your own juicer, raw carrot juice tastes good and provides many
other valuable nutrients. All health nuts drink carrot juice, so you
are in good company. Even a single carrot a
day reduces a person's risk of macular degeneration by 40 percent. Evidence
suggests that more is indeed better.
The theory is easy enough
to test, and safe enough to trust. We've all known since we were toddlers that "carrots are good for our eyes." What's
weird is that nearly one in four of us doesn't even
eat a single serving a day of any vegetable. That alone would account
for most of the 10,000,000 cases of macular degeneration in this
country. In addition to carrots,
really intense consumption of fresh, raw foods may help much more. I
know of a person whose degeneration of the retina was very severe and sadly
she had lost much of her sight. In desperation, she began a nearly
100% raw food diet. She ate mostly salads and a jar or two of home-grown
sprouts a day. I won't say that she loved doing it, but she loved the
results. Over a period of a year or so, her ophthalmologist confirmed
improvement. Not only was she no longer losing her sight, she was
actually gaining it back. Her recovery was remarkable and, medically
speaking, impossible. A blind man was once belittled for claiming he
got his sight back. The man said, "One thing I know, that though I
was blind, now I see." (John 9:25, RSV)
Recommended Reading: THE VITAMIN CURE FOR EYE DISEASES. Basic Health Publications, 2012. Neurophysiologist Robert G. Smith, PhD, explains how vitamins and other nutrients can often prevent and sometimes treat glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases of the eye.
Carper, Jean Food:
Your Miracle Medicine, HarperCollins, 1993, pages 438-439. Cheraskin and Ringsdorf, Psychodietetics, Bantam, 1974 Hoffer and Copyright C 2005,
2003 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. Revisions copyright 2018. Andrew Saul is the author
of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be
Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html
) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html
)
|
|
|
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision. Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing no alterations of content are made, and credit is given. |
|
|
|
|
| Home | Order my Books | About the Author | Contact Us | Webmaster | |
