Natural chemical from veg could reduce risk of losing eyesight 30%

Chemicals found in kale, spinach, and lettuce could reduce the risk of losing your sight by up to 30 per cent, a study suggests. Research in the US has found two chemicals in leafy vegetables are key to preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - a condition that destroys the sight of 40,000 people a year in the UK.

The major investigation monitored more than 4,000 people diagnosed with early AMD for more than six years. The results revealed that those taking the two chemicals, lutein and zeaxanthin, found in leafy vegetables were 25 per cent to 30 per cent less likely to progress to the advanced condition.

In other tests, many of the volunteers saw improvements in eye health in just three weeks. The study published in the International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research, is the first to demonstrate an increase in blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure in the eyes of a group of healthy people.

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To ensure the findings were accurate the study was ‘double-blinded and placebo controlled,’ meaning neither researchers nor volunteers knew who was receiving the genuine treatment and who was receiving dummy pills.

Professor Alon (CORRECT) Harris who led the project, said his results should be treated with caution: "This may be the first study to show increased blood flow to the eyes of healthy people with this combination of supplements, but it is not yet certain our results would translate into benefits for patients."

However, his project follows a major investigation in America called Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 2, which monitored more than 4,000 people diagnosed with early AMD for more than six years. The study found those taking lutein and zeaxanthin were 25% to 30% less likely to progress to the advanced condition.

Optometrist David Cartwright, chairman of the Eye Care Trust charity, said: “The American studies clearly show a benefit, but it seems it will take 40 years of research to collect the sort of evidence NICE wants."

He added: "‘I advise all my AMD patients to take it and if I was diagnosed with AMD I would certainly take it myself’