Professor Glen Jeffery and his associates at the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London supplemented old mice with vitamin D3 for six weeks while an untreated group served as controls. In addition to improved vision, the team found a reduction in number and changes in the configuration of retinal macrophages—immune cells that can sometimes cause excessive inflammatory damage—in animals that received the vitamin, as well as a decrease in retinal amyloid beta accumulation, which is a marker of aging. In humans, inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation are associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

“In the back of the eyes of mammals, like mice and humans, is a layer of tissue called the retina,” explained Dr Jeffery. “Cells in the retina detect light as it comes into the eyes and then send messages to the brain, which is how we see. This is a demanding job, and the retina actually requires proportionally more energy than any other tissue in the body, so it has to have a good supply of blood. However, with aging the high energy demand produces debris and there is progressive inflammation even in normal animals. In humans this can result in a decline of up to 30% in the numbers of light receptive cells in the eye by the time we are 70 and so lead to poorer vision.”

“When we gave older mice the vitamin D we found that deposits of amyloid beta were reduced in their eyes and the mice showed an associated improvement of vision,” he continued. “People might have heard of amyloid beta as being linked to Alzheimer’s disease and new evidence suggests that vitamin D could have a role in reducing its build up in the brain. So, when we saw this effect in the eyes as well, we immediately wondered where else these deposits might be being reduced.”

Further experimentation revealed a decrease in amyloid beta build-up in the animals’ blood vessels, including the aorta, which is the major vessel that carries blood from the heart. “Finding that amyloid deposits were reduced in the blood vessels of mice that had been given vitamin D supplements suggests that vitamin D could be useful in helping to prevent a range of age-related health problems, from deteriorating vision to heart disease,” Dr Jeffery noted.

“Many people are living to an unprecedented old age in the developed world,” commented Professor Douglas Kell, Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BBSRC who funded the study. “All too often though, a long life does not mean a healthy one and the lives of many older people are blighted by ill health as parts of their bodies start to malfunction.”

“If we are to have any hope of ensuring that more people can enjoy a healthy, productive retirement then we must learn more about the changes that take place as animals age,” he added. “This research shows how close study of one part of the body can lead scientists to discover new knowledge that is more widely applicable. By studying the fundamental biology of one organ scientists can begin to draw links between a number of diseases in the hope of developing preventive strategies.”

Artificial sweeteners are excitotoxins. They leave a lingering taste on the tongue, which cannot be neutralized at nerve endings and increase neuropathy. Exclude them from your diet and watch the dry eyes, tingling in the feet and other subtle symptoms disappear! Water and healthy drinks can be substituted. And if you need the added flavor find one of the many brands of stevia, D-ribose or xylitol.

Those extra inches on the waistline predispose to diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. If your waist is 38 inches or greater or your BMI is over 28 it is time to take action. Most doctors believe that diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that can be controlled, and reversed, by diet. If you avoid the diabetic label you will not be forced to have annual eye exams and you will have a weight off your shoulders.

High blood levels of the B vitamins, C, D, E and omega-3 fats were associated with better cognitive function, memory and brain size. We had learned this about vitamin D and DHA in multiple studies but none with MRI confirmation. Fifteen years ago a major study correlated larger brain size and lower incidence of dementia in French nuns who had high B vitamin levels, in addition to the fact that D and DHA protect chromosomes from shrinkage.

You might wonder why an ophthalmologist is interested in this…besides wanting people to live longer, and have healthier lives, these same nutrients have been shown in multiple studies over the years to support eye health.

This worked in keeping fat, muscle and the lens of the eye healthy. Otherwise this breed of mice would usually develop cataracts, which the gene therapy prevented. If the gene was administered later in life, the muscle and fat wasting partially reversed but the cataracts continued to progress. Interestingly enough the cardiovascular system doesn’t have these Hayflick cells and aged normally in the mice.

Dr Baker’s study has demonstrated that aged cells affect their neighbors in many tissues of the body. Oxidation can be countered in part through healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise and attitude. Certain vitamins are important, especially Vitamin D3 as discussed in the Tip Of the Month (Dec ‘11). It will be a long time before we are genetically engineered to prevent aging, although it will soon become commonplace to use genes in the treatment of selective illnesses. Regardless, this information gives us further insight into aging but we will still have to wear sunglasses and rely on our diet and supplementation to prevent cataracts. Click the photo for the link to the Economist article. Here is the link for Dr. Baker’s study in Nature.

By altering T-cells, many different diseases can be counteracted through enhancing immunity. This can be applied to iritis, uveitis, herpes, and optic neuritis, all of which may otherwise become recurrent for chronic diseases.

The eye-brain connection is once more highlighted by the need for adequate levels of Vitamin D. Kaufman and associates at the University of Wisconsin reported that Vitamin D eye drops provide a safe and effective treatment for Ocular Hypertensin (OHT) otherwise known as glaucoma suspects. Glaucoma is the second leading blinding disease in the US and OHT individuals may have a 50% chance of progressing to a stage whereby the need permanent therapy. There has been a long debate about whether to treat these people and now a more natural therapy is currently being formulated as an option to drugs and lasers.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with MS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders (this not to say it is the cause). Retinal nerve fiber loss, seen prominently in MS, is he hallmark in glaucoma and is the guide for treatment effectiveness. Since MS may be stopped with 8000-10000 IU Vitamin D, perhaps oral supplementation would also be effective for glaucoma. It remains for clinical researchers to come up with these answers, but I recommend getting your blood level of D3 tested to know where you stand.