Dietary fats may influence the rate of progression of macular degenration.

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€ THE QUESTION Past studies have shown that certain formulations of vitamins

and minerals may retard the progression of age-related macular degeneration

(AMD) -- a common disease in the elderly leading to blindness. Do dietary

fats have any effect on the progression of AMD?

€ THIS STUDY involved 261 people, aged 60 or older, with early or

intermediate AMD in at least in one eye. After about five years, people with

a high-fat diet were 2.9 times more likely to have developed advanced

AMD than those with a low-fat diet. Vegetable fat was associated with

greater risk than animal fat. A higher intake of fish and nuts, however,

lowered the risk of advanced AMD.

€ WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? People with signs of age-related

macular degeneration such as blurred vision.

€ CAVEATS The results are not based on a randomized trial. In addition, the

participants' diets were self-reported.

€ BOTTOM LINE People with signs of age-related macular degeneration may wish

to consult their physician about the sources and amount of fat in their

diet.

€ FIND THIS STUDY December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology; abstract

online at archopht.ama-assn.org.

€ LEARN MORE ABOUT the role of nutrition in macular degeneration at

amd.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Nutrition and

www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.htm.