Study links intermittent fasting to lower risk of AMD

Scientists from the Yonsei University College of Medicine have highlighted a link between intermittent fasting and a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The researchers examined medical records for 4500 patients aged 55 and older between 2015 and 2018. They assessed fundus photographs for signs of AMD and corelated this data with information about meal frequency among the participants.

Those who seldom ate breakfast were determined to be ‘intermittently fasting’, while the control group was defined as those who ate breakfast between five and seven days a week.

Signs of AMD were identified in one in four participants (25.1%).

Writing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the authors highlighted that undertaking intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast was “significantly associated” with a lower risk of AMD.

This trend was particularly evident in individuals younger than 70, those with obesity and those living in cities.

Separate to meal frequency, increased age and serum high-density lipoprotein levels were found to be independent risk factors for AMD.