A new study from the Stanford University College of Medicine has found that a nutritional supplement derived from turmeric significantly reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among Americans. The retrospective cohort study followed nearly 2 million people over 50. It found that people who took curcumin supplements reduced their risk of developing AMD and blindness by more than 50 percent.
“I was surprised by the magnitude of the findings and the risk reduction for patients taking CBNS,” study leader and ophthalmologist Dr. Ehsan Rahimy told The Epoch Times. Curcuma-based nutritional supplements (CBNS) are infused with curcumin, the active ingredient.
Curcumin is derived from the root of Curcuma longa, the scientific name for the turmeric plant. This bright yellow spice, widely used in Indian cuisine, has long been valued in traditional wellness practices. The study’s findings were published online Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology.
According to the researchers, the study’s scale and use of human medical records rather than laboratory or animal studies set it apart from previous research in the field. The results also showed a 72 percent reduction in wet AMD, a more severe and rapidly progressing form of the condition. Rahimy, a specialist in retinal diseases, said he became interested in research on this supplement because many of his patients are exploring alternative medicines and supplements to help mitigate the p.