The Potential Role of Dietary Antioxidant Capacity in Preventing Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex multifactorial disease and the primary cause of legal and irreversible blindness among individuals aged >=65 years in developed countries. Globally, it affects 30-50 million individuals, with an estimated increase of approximately 200 million by 2020 and approximately 300 million by 2040. Currently, the neovascular form may be able to be treated with the use of anti-VEGF drugs, while no effective treatments are available for the dry form. Many observational studies, such as AREDS-1 and AREDS 2, have shown a potential role of micronutrient supplementation in lowering the risk of progression of the early stages of AMD. Recently, low-grade inflammation, sustained by dysbiosis and a leaky gut, has been shown to contribute to the development of AMD. Given the ascertained influence of the gut microbiota in systemic low-grade inflammation and its potential modulation by macro- and micro-nutrients, a potential role of diet in AMD has been proposed. This review discusses the role of the gut microbiota in the development of AMD. Using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, we searched for recent scientific evidence discussing the impact of dietary habits (high fat and high glucose or fructose diets), micronutrients (vitamins C, E, and D, zinc, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) and omega-3 fatty acids on the modulation of the gut microbiota and their relationship with AMD risk and progression.

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The Role of Diet, Micronutrients and the Gut Microbiota in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: New Perspectives from the Gut–Retina Axis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10111677 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1677 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Emanuele Rinninella ◽

Maria Mele ◽

Nicolò Merendino ◽

Marco Cintoni ◽

Gaia Anselmi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Potential Role ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Low Grade ◽

Age Related ◽

The Impact ◽

Low Grade Inflammation

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex multifactorial disease and the primary cause of legal and irreversible blindness among individuals aged ≥65 years in developed countries. Globally, it affects 30–50 million individuals, with an estimated increase of approximately 200 million by 2020 and approximately 300 million by 2040. Currently, the neovascular form may be able to be treated with the use of anti-VEGF drugs, while no effective treatments are available for the dry form. Many studies, such as the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS 2, have shown a potential role of micronutrient supplementation in lowering the risk of progression of the early stages of AMD. Recently, low-grade inflammation, sustained by dysbiosis and a leaky gut, has been shown to contribute to the development of AMD. Given the ascertained influence of the gut microbiota in systemic low-grade inflammation and its potential modulation by macro- and micro-nutrients, a potential role of diet in AMD has been proposed. This review discusses the role of the gut microbiota in the development of AMD. Using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, we searched for recent scientific evidence discussing the impact of dietary habits (high-fat and high-glucose or -fructose diets), micronutrients (vitamins C, E, and D, zinc, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) and omega-3 fatty acids on the modulation of the gut microbiota and their relationship with AMD risk and progression.

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Potential role of retinal pigment epithelial lipofuscin accumulation in age-related macular degeneration

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/s0167-4943(02)00012-2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 359-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Martin L Katz

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Retinal Pigment Epithelial ◽

Potential Role ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Lipofuscin Accumulation ◽

Pigment Epithelial ◽

Age Related

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Complement C5 is not critical for the formation of sub-RPE deposits in Efemp1 mutant mice

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89978-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Donita L. Garland ◽

Eric A. Pierce ◽

Rosario Fernandez-Godino

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Deposit Formation ◽

Genetic Ablation ◽

Age Related ◽

Complement Dysregulation

AbstractThe complement system plays a role in the formation of sub-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) deposits in early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But the specific mechanisms that connect complement activation and deposit formation in AMD patients are unknown, which limits the development of efficient therapies to reduce or stop disease progression. We have previously demonstrated that C3 blockage prevents the formation of sub-RPE deposits in a mouse model of EFEMP1-associated macular degeneration. In this study, we have used double mutant Efemp1R345W/R345W:C5-/- mice to investigate the role of C5 in the formation of sub-RPE deposits in vivo and in vitro. The data revealed that the genetic ablation of C5 does not eliminate the formation of sub-RPE deposits. Contrarily, the absence of C5 in RPE cultures promotes complement dysregulation that results in increased activation of C3, which likely contributes to deposit formation even in the absence of EFEMP1-R345W mutant protein. The results also suggest that genetic ablation of C5 alters the extracellular matrix turnover through an effect on matrix metalloproteinases in RPE cell cultures. These results confirm that C3 rather than C5 could be an effective therapeutic target to treat early AMD.

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Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Role of Oxidative Stress and Blood Vessels

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22031296 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 1296

Author(s):

Yue Ruan ◽

Subao Jiang ◽

Adrian Gericke

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Vascular Dysfunction ◽

Therapeutic Strategies ◽

Vision Impairment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Age Related

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common irreversible ocular disease characterized by vision impairment among older people. Many risk factors are related to AMD and interact with each other in its pathogenesis. Notably, oxidative stress and choroidal vascular dysfunction were suggested to be critically involved in AMD pathogenesis. In this review, we give an overview on the factors contributing to the pathophysiology of this multifactorial disease and discuss the role of reactive oxygen species and vascular function in more detail. Moreover, we give an overview on therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from AMD.

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