Better Vision

Flavonoids improve outcomes in AMD

Quercetin and the catechins

One type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) produces new, leaky blood vessels under the macula and retina of the eye, quickly distorting or destroying vision in the center of the field of vision. In this study, 494 participants with this “wet” form of AMD got standard anti-blood-vessel-growth therapy for 12 months. Doctors validated flavonoids in the diet using a food-frequency questionnaire.

Those who got the least of three types of flavonoids in the diet; quercetin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-gallate, had significantly worse vision than those who got the most of these flavonoids. The low-flavonoid group was also twice as likely to have leaky blood vessels and fluid beneath the macula and retina.

Discussing the findings, doctors said in addition to having general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, quercetin and the catechins may inhibit abnormal blood-vessel-forming activity in the eye, may slow the progression of wet AMD, and help preserve the central field of vision.

Reference: European Journal of Nutrition; 2021, s00394-021-02582-4