William Atkins
Friday, 20 March 2009 21:09
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 3
An Australian study finds a connection between eating large amounts of red meat (listen up you steak and hamburger people) and an increased risk of developing blindness (AMD) as you grow older.
The study’s conclusions will show up in the April 1, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. It is currently online at the AJE website.
The article is entitled "
Red Meat and Chicken Consumption and Its Association With Age-related Macular Degeneration."
The paper was authored by Elaine W.-T. Chong, Julie A. Simpson, Luibov D. Robman, Allison M. Hodge, Khin Zaw Aung, Dallas R. English, Graham G. Giles, and Robyn H. Guymer.
In addition, the study was headed by Dr. Elaine W.-T. Chong of the Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Their report states,
“Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older people, and diet has been postulated to alter risk of AMD.”
AMD is the medical condition that involves initially the presence of yellow deposits in the central portion of the retina. Later, the breakdown of the middle part of the retina (macula) occurs so that the person loses gradually their central vision, which causes blurring and the fading of colors, and eventually possible blindness.
To evaluate that connection, the Australian researchers decided to analyze the amount of red meat and chicken that people ate and the risk of age-related macular degeneration in those people.
Page two describes the study.
