A recent study published in the Food Science & Nutrition journal has revealed that instant coffee consumption may significantly raise the risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), challenging previous beliefs that coffee could protect against this vision-threatening condition.
Unlike earlier research suggesting coffee’s protective effects, this study provides a nuanced analysis of different coffee types. The findings highlight that instant coffee users face a 6.92-fold greater risk of developing AMD compared to those consuming ground or decaffeinated coffee, which showed no significant impact.
AMD primarily affects individuals over 50, damaging the central portion of the retina responsible for sharp vision. Although it does not cause complete blindness, it progressively impairs daily activities such as reading, watching television, and recognizing faces. Symptoms often include distorted vision, sensitivity to bright light, flickering or flashing lights, and visual hallucinations.
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The exact cause of AMD remains unknown, but established risk factors include smoking, hypertension, obesity, and a family history of the disease. While treatments exist to slow the progression of wet AMD—including eye injections and light therapy—there is currently no cure or effective treatment for the dry form, according to the NHS.
Health experts now advise individuals at high risk for AMD to avoid instant coffee and consider reducing coffee intake overall to potentially decrease their risk. Researchers speculate that chemicals like acrylamide, which form during the production of instant coffee, may trigger inflammation in retinal cells, contributing to the development of AMD.
However, the study’s authors acknowledge limitations such as a broad confidence interval and a small dataset, emphasizing the need for further investigation. Future research aims to explore various coffee types and include a more diverse participant pool to better understand the relationship between coffee consumption and AMD risk.