Guest guest Posted June 18, 2003 Report Share Posted June 18, 2003 FOOD FOR THOUGHT DOES ANTACID CAUSE BLINDNESS? " Macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States associated with advancing age. According to a recent report from the ongoing Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), it appears that one of the most important risk factors for a subgroup of individuals with " dry " macular degeneration (those characterized by " geographic atrophy " ) is the use of antacids. " Exactly how antacid use may lead to macular degeneration is uncertain, but it is known that regular antacid use produces maldigestion/malabsorption of zinc and other nutrients just as age-related hypochlorhydria/atrophic gastritis does. Other studes have linked low levels of zinc to the development of macular degeneration. " Thus by inhibiting the absorption of zinc, long-term use of antacids may lead to macular degeneration and loss of vision. " - Source: Age-Related Eye Disease Study Group. Risk factors associated with age related macular degeneration, Opthalmology 2000, 107:2224-2232. " WHY STOMACH ACID IS GOOD FOR YOU, Jonathan V. Wright and Lane Lenard, 2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.