Macular degeneration is a vision-damaging disease that causes blind spots or fuzzy areas in your vision that are just completely blocked. Imagine seeing someone's face clearly, then later seeing their body, but their head being blanked out like a blind spot. This is macular degeneration.
It is a chronic condition that can be "wet" or "dry," with dry macular degeneration being the most common. Wet macular degeneration is when blood vessels housed under the retina start to leak blood. The dry form and most common form, occurs when the center of the retina, known as the macula, begins to break down.
It begins as blurry spots that can eventually lead to complete blind spots, greatly affecting quality of life.
B12 for Macular Degeneration
Using B12 supplements has been shown by research studies to help with macular degeneration and eye-related diseases.
Those with glaucoma had less peripheral vision loss, better eye fluid pressure and a more stable visual acuity, according to a study from Nihon University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. Archives of Internal Medicine published a study reporting that people who took B12 for macular degeneration showed a 35- to 40-percent lower risk for developing the condition over those that had taken a placebo drug. Even more eye-related benefits of taking B12 include improvements in optic neuropathy and prevention of cataracts. The importance of fish oil http://www.energyfirst.com/omega-3-fish-oil in staving off macular degeneration also cannot be understated.
Food Sources for B12
There are many tasty ways to get B12 into your diet by eating the right foods. B12 is found in almost all animal products. Because of this, vegetarians and vegans usually rely on supplements to get enough B12.
Some of the B12-rich foods included are:
- Oysters
- Liver
- Clams
- Eggs
- Milk
- Beef
- Pork
- Tuna
- Tempeh
- Miso
- Brewer's
- Yeast
- Salmon
- Most dairy products
B12 Deficiency
B12 deficiency is much more common in older people, due to that mal-absorption rate caused by aging, but anyone can suffer from this. Common symptoms of B12 deficiency include muscle weakness, memory loss and abnormal skin sensations.
Others groups that are commonly found to have B12 deficiencies are vegetarians, drug users, alcohol drinkers and those that have much stress in their lives. Medical conditions such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease can also contribute to B12 deficiency.
Recommended Amount of B12
While there are supplements available that range up to 5,000 mcg for B12, the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance, or USRDA, is 2 to 3 mcg daily – far too low for anyone in our view. B12 should be taken in a time-release form because of its quick absorption rate in the stomach. Given that it is a water soluble vitamin, it is impossible to take too much of it as you can with other fat soluble vitamins.
While B12 does help with many eye issues, it is needed for more than just good eye health. It is needed in vital functions in the body and important for the overall well-being. It's critical for energy production and stress management.
As always, consult with your doctor if you have serious concerns about your eye health or vision.
