Chinese scientists have discovered that consuming large amounts of calcium from dairy products reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss in older adults.
The journal Food & Function notes that age-related macular degeneration is a chronic disease affecting the retina, damaging the macula, the part responsible for central vision. It typically appears after age 55 and is almost twice as common in women.
In the dry form of macular degeneration, yellow deposits accumulate in the retina, obstructing normal blood flow. In the wet form, blood vessels begin to proliferate in the macula, causing swelling and bleeding.
The study included 568 people, including patients diagnosed with the disease and healthy volunteers. Researchers analyzed the participants' diets and compared calcium intake with eye health. They found that people who consumed more calcium had their risk of developing the disease reduced by almost half.
The researchers discovered that the most significant effect was observed in participants who obtained calcium from dairy products, with regular consumption of milk and yogurt linked to a substantial reduction in the risk of age-related macular degeneration. This association was even stronger in individuals who initially consumed low amounts of calcium—less than 800 mg per 2,000 calories per day.
Interestingly, the calcium found in powdered milk and plant sources such as vegetables and legumes had no statistically significant effect on the risk of developing the disease.
The researchers emphasize that these findings do not prove a direct causal relationship, but they do suggest a possible role for diet in preventing age-related eye diseases. They believe that including dairy products in the diet could be a simple and affordable way to maintain eye health, especially for people with calcium deficiency.
