News

17th September 2018

A compound found in oranges ‘could help protect against age-related eye disease’

Flavonoids have been found to have a protective effect on the likelihood of developing macular degeneration. A compound found in oranges could help protect against an incurable age-related eye disease, according to new research.

A study has shown that people who regularly eat oranges are less likely to develop macular degeneration – which affects around 2.4% of the adult population in the UK – than people who do not eat the citrus fruit.

The researchers at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Australia say that flavonoids – a group of nutrient-rich plant compounds found in oranges and other fruit and vegetables – have been linked to a decreased likelihood of developing the eye disease.

The research is based on 2,000 adults aged over 50 over a 15-year period. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of vision among those in their fifties and sixties.

www.irishnews.com

By Caroline Calder News Share: