Just two glasses of wine or beer a day can increase a person’s risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) according to a study from the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA).
Researchers examined data from 20,963 participants in The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, aged 40–69 between 1990–94. They compared alcohol intake recorded in baseline surveys to AMD prevalence determined between 2003–07.
Consuming more than 20g of alcohol per day, the current Australian recommendation for maximum daily intake, was associated with an increase in early AMD of approximately 20 per cent for both women and men, compared to non-drinkers. This was significant after adjusting for other known AMD associated risk factors including sex, age, smoking, and diet.
A standard glass of wine and a standard glass or bottle of beer contain approximately 15g of alcohol each, while a nip of spirits contains approximately 10g of alcohol.
Consuming more than 20g of alcohol per day, the current Australian recommendation for maximum daily intake, was associated with an increase in early AMD…
“While previous studies have illustrated the risks of heavy drinking to eye health, until now there was little evidence regarding the association between moderate alcohol consumption and early AMD,” said Dr. Madeleine Adams, the study’s lead author.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and Cancer Council Victoria and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology last month.
