(Phytochemicals in) Foods to Prevent and Treat diseases - Retinitis pigmentosa

Eye disorders is defined as a condition of the list eye diseases including cataracts, color blindness, unable to focus light rays, blurry vision, etc. Retinitis pigmentosa is an genetic degenerate eye disease that damage to the retina of that can lead to severe vision impairment and blindness.


Types of food to treat eye disorders
1. Carrot and Raisin Bran
In the study to investigate whether a diet high in long-chain ω-3 fatty acids can slow the rate of visual acuity loss among patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A palmitate, showed that mean annual rates of decline in distance and retinal visual acuities in adults with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A, 15 000 IU/d, are slower over 4 to 6 years among those consuming a diet rich in ω-3 fatty acids(1). Other researchers reported that  a beneficial effect of 15,000 IU/d of vitamin A and suggest an adverse effect of 400 IU/d of vitamin E on the course of retinitis pigmentosa(2).

2. Flax seed and fish oil
In the study of The evidence for efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing or slowing the progression of retinitis pigmentosa: a systematic review, researchers found that six studies published between 1995 and 2004 met eligibility criteria in investigating the question of the possible value of omega-3 fatty acids in slowing the progression of retinitis pigmentosa(3).


3. Others (Orange juice, juice, green tea and green vegetables)
In the study to investigate the rd1 mouse model of RP to test the hypothesis that cones die from oxidative damage, with a mixture of antioxidants was selected to try to maximize protection against oxidative damage achievable by exogenous supplements; alpha-tocopherol (200 mg/kg), ascorbic acid(250 mg/kg), Mn(III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (10 mg/kg), and alpha-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg), showed that the treatment markedly reduced oxidative damage in cones; this was accompanied by a 2-fold increase in cone cell density and a 50% increase in medium-wavelength cone opsin mRNA. Antioxidants also caused some preservation of cone function based upon photopic electroretinograms. These data support the hypothesis that gradual cone cell death after rod cell death in RP is due to oxidative damage, and that antioxidant therapy may provide benefit(4).

5. Etc.


Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22332205
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8512476
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16883366
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16849425