A common eye disease could be prevented by following a long-term low-carbohydrate diet that is high in fat and protein from vegetables. In a study conducted by the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE), researchers found that a change in diet could help to lower the risk of a common subtype of glaucoma.
The study published in the journal Eye was the first to discover that if at-risk groups follow dietary restrictions, they may reduce their risk of developing primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with early paracentral visual loss by 20 percent.
A Dietary Pattern
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“A diet low in carbohydrates and higher in fats and proteins results in the generation of metabolites favorable for the mitochondrion-rich optic nerve head, which is the site of damage in POAG. This dietary pattern has already been shown to have favorable results for epilepsy and showed some promising results for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s diseases,” said co-corresponding author Louis R. Pasquale, Deputy Chair for Ophthalmology Research for the Mount Sinai Health System. “It’s important to note that a low-carbohydrate diet won’t stop glaucoma progression if you already have it, but it may be a means to preventing glaucoma in high-risk groups. If more patients in these high-risk categories including those with a family history of glaucoma adhered to this diet, there might be fewer cases of vision loss.”
The study followed 185,000 participants from three large studies in the United States between 1976 and 2017. Participants were female nurses and male health professionals between the ages of 40 and 75 who were required to answer food frequency questionnaires every two to four years. Their data was analyzed to find what they typically ate and drank, what diseases they may be developing, and if they had glaucoma. The researchers asked their eye care providers to send medical records to determine if they had POAG.
After dividing participants into groups based on carbohydrate intake, researchers were able to look across the spectrum from high to low carbohydrate intake and see any possible relationship with POAG. Three different ways of achieving a low carbohydrate diet were considered—substituting animal-based fats and proteins for carbohydrates; substituting plant-based based fats and proteins for carbohydrates, and replacing carbohydrates with high fats and proteins regardless of the source.
It was found that patients in the low-carbohydrate diet group who consumed a diet of increase plant-based fat and protein were associated with a 20 percent lower risk of developing POAG compared to those in the high-carbohydrate group. Researchers did point out that they did not find any association between POAG and a low-carbohydrate diet without accounting for the source protein or fat. They also did not find any association between glaucoma and an animal-based low-carbohydrate diet. They believe this may suggest that vegetable sources are more beneficial for eye health compared to animal sources for a low-carbohydrate diet.
As the first study of its kind, researchers warn that it is purely an observational study and a clinical trial will be needed to follow up with any patterns found in relation to the eye disease. They conclude that it is important to further research by identifying patients who have a genetic makeup of primary open-angle glaucoma who may benefit from a low-carbohydrate diet.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
