Association of Nutrients, Specific Dietary Patterns, and Probiotics with Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease that mainly affects those over 50 years old. Even though management of the vascularisation associated with the ‘’wet’’ form of AMD is effective using anti-VEGF drugs, there is currently no treatment for the ‘’dry’’ form of AMD. Given this, it is imperative to develop methods for disease prevention and treatment. For this review, we searched scientific articles via PubMed and Google Scholar, and considered the impact of nutrients, specific dietary patterns, and probiotics on the incidence and progression of AMD. Many studies revealed that regular consumption of foods that contain ω-3 fatty acids is associated with a lower risk for late AMD. Particular dietary patterns – such as the Mediterranean diet that contains ω-3 FAs-rich foods (nuts, olive oil and fish) – seem to be protective against AMD progression compared to Western diets that are rich in fats and carbohydrates. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials that investigated the role of nutrient supplementation in AMD have showed that treatment with antioxidants such as lutein/zeaxanthin, zinc, and carotenoids may be effective against AMD progression. More recent studies have investigated the association of the antioxidant properties of gut bacteria such as Bacteroides and Eysipelotrichi, with lower AMD risk in individuals whose microbiota is enriched with them. These are promising fields of research that may yield the capacity to improve quality of life for millions of people, allowing them to live with clear vision for longer and avoiding the high cost of vision-saving surgery.

Personalizing Nutrition Strategies: Bridging Research and Public Health

“…The onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration is associated with low levels of carotenoids, antioxidant vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and a reduced intake of fruits, vegetables, and fish [ 370 , 371 ]. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that a high consumption of vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and carotenoids could reduce the progression of ARMD by approximately 25% [ 372 ].…”

Platinum Nanozymes Counteract Photoreceptor Degeneration and Retina Inflammation in a Light-Damage Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…Planar retinal prosthetic devices , or optogenetics , obtained poor results in restoring the high-resolution central vision lost in AMD. , Replacement therapies with stem cells, allowing for the differentiation of retinal cells, including RPE and PRs, are promising, although mostly in the preclinical stage. − Pharmacological approaches to reduce the rate of disease progression include drugs with antioxidant properties, inhibitors of the complement cascade, and neuroprotective agents. However, no treatment can halt or reverse any stage of dry disease. , …”

“…However, no treatment can halt or reverse any stage of dry disease. 27,28 Nanoparticle (NP)-based therapy has recently been attracting tremendous interest as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. With respect to parenteral therapies, NPs can be locally injected in the vitreous as colloidal suspensions with ease of administration and high diffusibility.…”

Chinese medicine, Qijudihuang pill, mediates cholesterol metabolism and regulates gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice, implications for age-related macular degeneration

“…Wet AMD is defined by chronic neovascularization, when new blood vessels, induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), grow under the RPE layer and break into the Bruch’s membrane, resulting in bleeding and sudden loss of vision ( 2 ). There is no effective treatment for dry AMD, though antioxidants have shown subtle benefits ( 3 ).In contrast, anti-VEGF therapy is effective for wet AMD; however, many patients experience incomplete responses, including persistent exudation, hemorrhage, and ongoing lesion fibrosis ( 4 ). AMD is a complex disease, associated with environmental and genetic risk factors, and multiple signaling pathways are involved ( 5 ).…”