The Relationship between Fish and Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that generally only affects older adults as a result of the wear and tear on the eyes. The results are generally a loss of vision in the center of the visual field due to damage to the retina. It can cause a variety of complications, such as difficulty in reading and recognizing faces, much less driving and other vision-oriented tasks. Ironically, peripheral vision is generally not affected which allows individuals to maintain their daily routines, albeit at a reduced pace.

Over the years the consumption of fish, and fish by-products, has been shown to have a wide variety of beneficial side effects. For example, the omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish have been clinically proven to help with depression levels during pregnancy, and oily fish has been long known to provide increased cognitive abilities to those individuals consuming it on a regular basis. One of the most recent concepts suggests that eating several servings of oily fish per week could halt the progression of macular degeneration, according to a study performed by researchers at Tufts University, as published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Previous research has shown that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can actually decrease an individual’s risk of developing macular degeneration by roughly 30%. This current study examined those numbers to determine whether or not a diet rich in omega-3s could also benefit individuals already suffering from the disease. What they found was that individuals who were in the early stages of the disease who consumed a diet high in omega-3s had a 25% reduced probability of their disease progressing to the more advanced stage. In addition, individuals suffering from advanced forms of macular degeneration that began consuming a diet high in omega-3s in conjunction with supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals, showed a decreased risk of 50% of acceleration of the disease.

While the research itself is not conclusive evidence it does suggest that there is yet another reason to consume high levels of omega-3 as part of a balanced nutritional regimen. Based upon the findings of the study, the researchers involved recommend consumption of between two and three servings of fatty fish every week, suggesting that a meal high in omega-3s might actually alter the blood fat levels, making them less harmful to the eye itself.

Interestingly enough, the research showed that the risk reductions were the same in both wet and dry forms of the disease, suggesting that macular degeneration could potentially be substantially reduced provided that a proper diet is maintained throughout the course of an individual's life. Even so, it should be noted that the reduced risks are not necessarily indicative of complete protection from the disease, simply a reduced chance of developing it over time.