Diet could be a contributing factor to vision development problems, with calcium deficiency and the consumption of processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks potentially harming eye health, an expert said.
Myopia, or short-sightedness, could be related to genetics, environment and lifestyle, as visual development in children continues until about the age of 13, said Huang Hsiu-mei (黃秀玫), an assistant professor in the pediatric division of the School of Nursing at National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences.
While research showed that extended use of electronic devices, insufficient outdoor exposure and academic pressure could increase the risk of myopia, nutrition also plays an important role, she said.
Photo courtesy of Mennonite Christian Hospital via CNA
Recent research showed that overconsumption of refined carbohydrates could be related to myopia, she said, adding that diet is seen as a potentially modifiable risk factor.
Refined carbohydrates are rapidly absorbed, causing spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels, she said.
When insulin levels rise, it could stimulate the secretion of insulin-like growth factors, which in turn promote cell growth and differentiation, Huang added.
This could lead to an increase in the axial length of the eye, raising the risk of myopia, she said.
Moreover, excessive intake of processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks could trigger chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which could affect the health and growth of the sclera, and have adverse effects on eye structure, she said.
Calcium also plays an important role, she said, adding that as it helps maintain the elasticity of the eyeball, long-term deficiency could weaken the sclera, potentially affecting visual development.
However, the relationship between specific dietary patterns, intake levels and their mechanisms in myopia development has yet to be fully verified, Huang said.
Parents are advised to pay close attention to nutrition labels and content when selecting foods for growing children, as excessive consumption of refined sugars over time could affect the balance of essential nutrients, which could have negative effects on vision development, she said.
Children should be encouraged to replace sugary beverages with water, while eating fresh fruits and vegetables could also reduce refined sugar intake, she added.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
A white king snake that frightened passengers and caused a stir on a Taipei MRT train on Friday evening has been claimed by its owner, who would be fined, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday. A person on Threads posted that he thought he was lucky to find an empty row of seats on Friday after boarding a train on the Bannan (Blue) Line, only to spot a white snake with black stripes after sitting down. Startled, he jumped up, he wrote, describing the encounter as “terrifying.” “Taipei’s rat control plan: Release snakes on the metro,” one person wrote in reply, referring
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
Taiwan’s two cases of hantavirus so far this year are on par with previous years’ case numbers, and the government is coordinating rat extermination work, so there should not be any outbreaks, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said today in an interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper). An increase in rat sightings in Taipei and New Taipei City has raised concerns about the spread of hantavirus, as rats can carry the disease. In January, a man in his 70s who lived in Taipei’s Daan District (大安) tested positive posthumously for hantavirus, Taiwan’s
RSS