Harvard Women's Health Watch

Harvard Women's Health Watch, Volume II, no 5, January 95, reported that researchers at 5 major eye centers have determined that carrots are indeed good for our eyes because they appear to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and that green leafy vegetables may be even better.

The research group set out to determine whether vitamins A, C, and E, and carotenoids - substances that are converted to vitamin A or retinol in the body - have any effect on the risk of developing AMD. They interviewed 876 people between the ages of 55 and 80 - 199 women and 157 men with AMD and 280 women and 240 men who did not have the disease. All were asked how often they ate 60 foods and were questioned about their use of vitamin supplements.

When the researchers analyzed the questionnaires, they found that the amounts of vitamins A, C, and E consumed had little effect on the risk of developing AMD. However, the women and men who ate the most carotenoids had a 43% lower risk of developing AMD than those who ate the least. Spinach and collard greens, which have high levels of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, were the most strongly associated with a reduction in AMD risk.