Red Meat & AMD

A recent Australian study shows that a diet high in red meat is tied to early age-related macular degeneration. A group of 5604 subjects in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, aged 58-69 years old completed a food frequency questionnaire from their past year. Red meat consumption of at least 10 times weekly was associated with a higher risk of early AMD (late AMD was not associated). Chicken, however, was not associated with early AMD. However, those that ate chicken at least 3.5 times per week had a reduced risk of late AMD. More data is needed to confirm this study.*

*M. Al Biltagi, A.A. Baset, M. Bassiouny, M. Al Kasrawi, M. Attia. “Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study.” Acta Pædiatrica. April 2009, Volume 98, Issue 4, Pages: 737-742.