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Dried Goji Berries May Provide Protection Against Age-Related Vision Loss

嘿嘿视频 Study Shows Small Serving of the Fruit Increased Protective Pigments in the Eye

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Dried red goji berries against white background
Study finds a small serving of goji berries increased protective pigments in the eye that may help prevent or delay the development of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. (Photo/ UC Regents)

Quick Summary

  • Regularly eating a small serving of dried goji berries may provide protection against age-related macular degeneration, or AMD
  • AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in seniors
  • Small study of healthy participants found 90 days of consumption increased protective pigments in the eye

Regularly eating a small serving of dried goji berries may help prevent or delay the development of , or AMD, in healthy middle-aged people, according to a small, randomized trial conducted at the University of California, Davis.

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older people, and is estimated to affect more than and 170 million globally. 

鈥淎MD affects your central field of vision and can affect your ability to read or recognize faces,鈥 said , a co-author of the study and an associate professor in the .

The researchers found that 13 healthy participants aged 45 to 65 who consumed 28 grams (about one ounce, or a handful) of goji berries five times a week for 90 days increased the density of protective pigments in their eyes. In contrast, 14 study participants who consumed a commercial supplement for eye health over the same period did not show an increase.

The pigments that increased in the group that ate goji berries, lutein and zeaxanthin, filter out harmful blue light and provide antioxidant protection. Both help to protect the eyes during aging. 

Doctoral student holds small bowl of goji berries
Xiang Li, doctoral candidate in nutritional biology, holds a small serving of dried goji berries. (Prae Charoenwoodhipong) 

鈥淟utein and zeaxanthin are like sunscreen for your eyes,鈥 said lead author , a doctoral candidate in the Nutritional Biology Program.

鈥淭he higher the lutein and zeaxanthin in your retina, the more protection you have. Our study found that even in normal healthy eyes, these optical pigments can be increased with a small daily serving of goji berries,鈥 said Li.

The was published in the journal .

Berries used for eye health in China

are the fruit of Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum, two species of shrubby bushes found in northwest China. The dried berries are a common ingredient in Chinese soups and are popular as herbal tea. They are similar to raisins and eaten as a snack.

In Chinese medicine, goji berries are said to have 鈥eye brightening鈥 qualities. Li grew up in northern China and became curious whether there were any physiological properties to 鈥渆ye brightening.鈥

鈥淢any types of eye diseases exist, so it is not clear which disease 鈥榚ye brightening鈥 is targeting,鈥 said Li.

She researched the bioactive compounds in goji berries and found they contain high quantities of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are known to related to AMD. The form of zeaxanthin in goji berries is also a highly bioavailable form, according to Li, meaning it is readily absorbed in the digestive system so the body can use it.  

The current treatment for intermediate stages of AMD uses special dietary supplements, called , that contain vitamins C, E, zinc, copper and lutein and zeaxanthin. No known therapy has yet been shown to impact early stages of AMD.

The cause of AMD is complex and multifactorial, according to Yiu, and involves a mix of genetic risks, age-associated changes, and environmental factors like smoking, diet and sun exposure. Early stages of AMD do not have symptoms; however, physicians can detect AMD and other eye problems during a regular comprehensive eye exam.

鈥淥ur study shows goji berries, which are a natural food source, can improve macular pigments of healthy participants beyond taking high-dose nutritional supplements,鈥 said Yiu. 鈥淭he next step for our research will be to examine goji berries in patients with early-stage AMD.鈥

Although the results are promising, the researchers note that the study size was small and more research will be needed.

Additional authors on the study include Roberta R. Holt, Carl L. Keen, Lawrence S. Morse and Robert M. Hackman from the University of California, Davis. 

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