Article on sunlight in relation to AMD.

Click on the link below

practiceupdate.com/c/77848/...

[ironbrain]

And yet there are now quite a number of articles discussing the formation of something called carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) when docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is exposed to sunlight and its possible effects on the retina. (Search for, for example: dha+cep+retina)

I have been wondering for some time whether people, like me, who consume quite large amounts of oily fish (a source of DHA) and omega-3 fatty acids from other sources thought to be good for a healthy hearts and blood vessels and yet more, and who also like to get out into the health giving sun, don't raise the risk of their getting AMD.

Maybe what we need to know from a study like this is the omega-3 content of the diet of the people in the sample and their exposure to sunlight and whether the sunglasses they wore provided UV protection.

Edit:

I just found this:

"In contrast to all of the other studies to date, an Australian prospective study found a positive association between intake of omega-3 and progression of AMD."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Have we been undersold sunglasses (with UV protection)(by our authorities)?

[willnick in reply to ironbrain]

From the link it seems that a diet with plenty of oily fish is important, though is not included in AREDs.

[Hidden]

Hi Rennatk and ironbrain.

Thank you both for the information. Its all very interesting. But while statistics may point to one factor or another they do not prove the cause of AMD or any other disease come to that. There are likely to be a large number of factors involved in any disease, reacting differently in different people according to their individual constitution and body make-up. Research is all about statistics, though unfortunately we have nothing better at present and it needs to go on. Perhaps one day the one factor that applies to "everyone" with AMD will be found. Until then it can only be assumed....

[willnick]

Interesting article, seems that nothing we are told is certain. I wish there was more on the possible positive effect of Vit D - which most are said to be deficient in. Maybe another supplement to consider?

[Hidden in reply to willnick]

It is difficult to know what to believe. A short time ago I saw a paper which claimed that we gained very little vitamin D from sunlight! 🤨

[StokeySue]

I think the link between UVA exposure and cataract is pretty well established - here’s a nice summary of a new study, you need to scroll down below the list (and as it’s in the news brief it may relocate)

nei.nih.gov/news/briefs/uv_...

My gut feeling is that all these degenerative conditions that appear as we age are are likely to have some genetic basis ( not necessarily that it’s completely preordained, perhaps more that if you don’t have the relevant gene(s) it won’t happen) but also life style / life experience factors such as environment, diet, exercise, infections etc. My hip joints agree!

Certainly the Manchester group working on the genetics of AMD have identified specific genes that are implicated, Dr Simon Clarke spoke about it at the Macular Society Conference

Here’s an example of their work

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...