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October 9, 2006
Nutrients in egg yolks help prevent macular degeneration
A couple of studies were published in this month's Journal of Nutrition (click here and here for abstracts) showing that substances found in egg yolks were concentrated in the eye and help prevent macular degeneration, one of the dreaded diseases of aging. Macular degeneration is caused by a deterioration of the retina, and is the leading cause of blindness in people over 55.
These two fat soluble nutrients--lutein and zeaxanthin--are found in egg yolks as well as in other foods but appear to be more bioavailable when consumed as eggs.
Click here for a pretty good overview of the findings of these studies.
The sad but amusing sidebar to these studies is the extreme effort these researchers made to ensure that the egg consumption that provided all the benefits wasn't associated with--God forbid--any 'negative' change in cholesterol levels.
As the summary points out
Importantly, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were not affected by the egg interventions.
So, let's review. Macular degeneration causes enormous disability to those afflicted, that we know for sure. The notion that elevations of cholesterol cause any kind of problem whatsoever is an hypothesis, and one that gets blown up any time it's really evaluated. Researchers find a cheap, nutritious, readily available food containing substances that prevent macular degeneration, but they're timid about its use because it 'might' minimally increase blood levels of cholesterol, which have never been shown to cause problems in the first place. And have never really been shown to increase with increased cholesterol in the diet.
God help us all.
Posted by mreades at October 9, 2006 2:32 PM
Comments
Dr. Mike,
Thank you very much for posting this. I'm printing it out and sending it to my Mom. She is a 76 YO retired nurse with Macular Degeneration.
Other than that, she is in very good health for a 76 YO woman, yet is taking Lipitor and "watching the fatty foods". Makes me so mad...
"God help us all" is right.
Hi Karen--
I hope your mother takes heed. I don't know how much good it will do at this stage of the game, but it certainly shouldn't hurt.
Best--
MRE
Posted by: Karen J at October 9, 2006 5:48 PM
Interesting study. However, I am sick of eggs.
Eggs never were my fave and with LC I'm egged out.
M
Hi Demented M--
Sorry.
Cheers--
MRE
Posted by: DementedM at October 10, 2006 6:05 AM
When I changed to a low-carb diet a few years ago, within a week I noticed a change in my eye color from pale grey-blue to a much deeper turquoise blue. I assumed this change resulted from either the additional eggs or increased fat in my diet. Does this seem likely?
Hi Ethyl--
Nope, I've never heard of such a thing, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I suppose that some of the fatty deposits around the iris cleared up showing the true color instead of seeing it through a veil of fat.
Best--
MRE
Posted by: Ethyl D at October 10, 2006 6:19 AM
I mentioned eating more eggs to a senior client once to enhance his overall health and well being and after ~6 months he came in telling me he could see better. I had no real idea why then, but now...
I eat ~2-3 eggs pretty much everyday. I'm 45 and still do not need glasses (both parents wore glasses). I'm bumping it up!
Hi Fred--
I've never had patients tell me anything like this, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.
Cheers--
MRE
Posted by: Fred Hahn at October 10, 2006 7:03 AM
I just emailed this to my diabetic mother...though she's had Type 1 for over 25 years, her health is perfect...she figured out stable blood sugars = less health problems long ago. But I think a few extra eggs in her diet are something to be encouraged.
Hi Lyndsay--
I'm with you.
Best--
MRE
Posted by: lyndsey at October 10, 2006 9:37 AM