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Oranges may reduce risk of failing eyesight, study says
The study indicates that people who regularly eat oranges are less likely to develop macular degeneration in 15 years.
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A study has shown that eating oranges regularly could prevent loss of eyesight later in life. (Shutterstock/File)
A new study suggests that eating an orange each day can reduce the chance of deteriorating eyesight by 60 percent.
The study, led by Professor Bamini Gopinath from the University of Sydney, indicates that people who regularly eat oranges are less likely to develop macular degeneration in 15 years, reports The Telegraph.
Macular degeneration is an age-related medical condition in which central vision is lost or blurred. Adults over 50 are said to be at higher risk of developing this condition.
Researchers at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, interviewed over 2,000 adults aged over 50.
Read also: Why an apple a day keeps the doctor away
From the data gathered, Gopinath states that the orange's flavonoids, a plant compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, appear to help prevent macular degeneration.
Unlike most studies, which focus on the effects of common nutrients such as vitamins C, E and A on the eyes, this study focuses on the relationship between flavonoids and macular degeneration. Other data on foods containing flavonoids did not show the same connection.
“We examined common foods that contain flavonoids such as tea, apples, red wine and oranges. Significantly, the data did not show a relationship between other food sources protecting the eyes against the disease.”
This study compiled data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, one of the world’s largest epidemiology studies. (anm/kes)
