Link found between vision loss and red meat

18 Mar 2009

Meat eaters take note – a link has been found between eating too much red meat and vision loss.

Researchers from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) have found an association between red meat consumption and an increased risk of early Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

The first detailed study in the world to look at the link between meat consumption and macular degeneration examined the diets of 6734 people across Melbourne aged between 58 and 69 years.

Report author Dr Elaine Chong said there was an association between people who ate red meat more than ten times a week and early AMD.

“Interestingly, about one quarter of our study population ate red meat at least ten times a week; and the association with both early and late AMD was stronger for salami and continental sausage consumption than for fresh red meat.

The study also found a decreased association with late AMD for people who ate more than three and a half serves of chicken a week.

Dr Chong said high meat intake has been associated with higher levels of N-nitroso compounds and heme iron which can result in oxidative damage and be toxic to the retina.

Age Related Macular Degeneration affects the central area of the retina called the macula. The macula is a small area at the back of the eye which is responsible for fine and reading vision. This results in reduced central vision, leaving the peripheral vision intact.

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in Australia and its estimated one in seven people over the age of fifty are affected by the condition.

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