“In glaucoma, we think there is an impairment of blood flow to the optic nerve,” Kang said. “And an important factor that regulates blood flow to the eye is a substance called nitric oxide.” Green leafy vegetables contain nitrates, which are precursors to nitric oxide, the researchers said.
“When you consume the higher amount of green leafy vegetables, you have greater levels of nitric oxide in your body,” Kang said.
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Findings from the study were published online Jan. 14 in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
The findings make sense, said Dr. Rahul Pandit, an ophthalmologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, who reviewed the new research.
This study, he said, is the first study to look at a large population and show that higher consumption of green leafy vegetables appears to decrease glaucoma risk.
“We do have some data that people with glaucoma have impaired nitric oxide production in the eye,” added Pandit, who is also an associate professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
The findings suggest that “maybe this is something we can apply clinically,” Pandit said.
The advice to eat more green leafy vegetables seems low risk, Pandit said. He suggested people ask their doctor whether eating and increasing green leafy vegetables is a good idea for them.
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