etCETera Issue 3 | Page 11

Figure 2 Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, is present in many fresh foods

Almonds

Almonds are rich in vitamin E. They also contain amygdalin( Vitamin B17) which some people claim is an anti-cancer nutrient. There is no scientific evidence to support claims that amygdalin can treat cancer or any other illness. 12

Other nuts such as flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty-acids. Diets rich in omega-3 have been shown to manage dry eye symptoms 13 and may help protect against AMD.

Our verdict: You’ re better off eating wallnuts or oily fish

References

All URLs accessed December 2016

1

World Health Organisation, Micronutrient deficiencies, http:// www. who. int / nutrition / topics / vad / en /( accessed December 2016)

2

AREDS Group. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with Vitamin C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for AMD and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct; 119( 10): 1417-36.

3

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2( AREDS2) Research Group. Lutein / Zeaxanthin for the treatment of age-related cataract: AREDS2 randomized trial report No. 4. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013 May 5:1-7.

4

Smigel K. Beta carotene fails to prevent cancer in two major studies: CARET intervention stopped. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996 Feb 21; 88( 3-4): 145.

5

Sommerburg O, Keunen JE, Bird AC, van Kuijk FJ. Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes. Br J Ophthalmol. 1998 Aug; 82( 8): 907-10.

6

Junghans A, Sies H, Stahl W. Macular pigments lutein and zeaxanthin as blue light filters studied in liposomes. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001 Jul 15; 391( 2): 160-4.

7

Antioxidant status and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Jan; 111( 1): 104-9.

8 http:// www. incredibleegg. org / eggcyclopedia / l / lutein /

9

Chung HY1, Rasmussen HM, Johnson EJ.. Lutein bioavailability is higher from lutein-enriched eggs than from supplements and spinach in men. J Nutr. 2004 Aug; 134( 8): 1887-93.

10

Faulks RM, Hart DJ, Brett GM, Dainty JR, Southon S. Kinetics of gastrointestinal transit and carotenoid absorption and disposal in ileostomy volunteers fed spinach meals. Eur J Nutr. 2004 Feb; 43( 1): 15-22.

11

Micozzi MS, Beecher GR, Taylor PR, Khachik F. Carotenoid analyses of selected raw and cooked foods associated with a lower risk for cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 Feb 21; 82( 4): 282-5.

12

Cancer Research UK. http:// www. cancerresearchuk. org / about-cancer / cancers-in-general / treatment / complementary-alternative / therapies / laetrile

13

Bhargava R et Al. A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome. Int J Ophthalmol. 2013; 6( 6): 811 – 816.

Events Calendar

East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire LOC Meeting

5th January 2017 Village Hotel, Hull www. eastyorksloc. org

Eyecare Exhibition & Conference

22nd & 23rd January 2017 Hilton Hotel Glasgow, Glasgow www. eyecareglasgow. com

100 % Optical

4th – 6th February 2017 ExCel London www. 100percentoptical. com

Optometry Tomorrow 2017

19th & 20th March 2017 www. optometrytomorrow. org

Optrafair

1st- 3rd April 2017 Birmingham NEC www. optrafair. co. uk

BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition

9th – 11th June 2017 www. bcla. org. uk

January 2017 | etCETera 11