title: Sound bite.
abstract: A diet rich in foods with a high glycemic index may contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - the leading cause of blindness in people older than 50. The findings come from the from the US Nurses' Health Study. 1,036 eyes from 526 women in the Boston-area were tested and the women's diet was assessed. Foods with a high glycemic index such as white bread, biscuits and baked potato, lead to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. The researchers conclude that diet is potentially one of the most cost-effective strategies to prevent the development of AMD (Am J Clin Nutr 2006 83: 880).