A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology shows that eating fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids may protect people from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that could lead to blindness.

The study began in 1993 and followed a large number of women in their mid-life for an average of 10 years. At the end of the average 10 year follow-up, the study found that women who ate one or more servings of fish each week were less likely to develop AMD than those who ate less or none. The fish that seemed to have the most benefit were fishes like salmon, sardine, swordfish - the dark meat fish and canned tuna.

The associate professor on the study explains:

“We know that inflammatory processes are involved in AMD, and the omega-3 long-chain fatty acids do have an anti-inflammatory effect,” said the lead author, Dr. William G. Christen, an associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He added, “Our observational data needs to be confirmed in randomized trials… But already the message seems to be simple and strong…Fish oil, that is the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, that have long been thought to be protective against cardiovascular disease may also be of significant benefit in the primary prevention of AMD among women who have no disease or have undetected early signs of disease, and have not yet been diagnosed with AMD.”

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