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According to a case study published in a medical journal, the strict diet of a teenager, consisting of fries, potato chips and white bread, let him permanently lose his sight.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have examined the case of a young patient whose extremely difficult diet caused his blindness – and sounded the alarm about the dangers of unhealthy eating.
The unidentified patient told doctors that he was eating a limited diet of fries, potato chips, white bread and a few slices of processed meat since elementary school. The boy also avoided foods with certain textures. He first visited his GP at the age of 14, complaining of fatigue, according to a case report published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The teenager was not taking any medication; had a normal BMI and size; and showed no visible sign of malnutrition. Doctors discovered that he had low levels of vitamin B12 and anemia. He was treated with vitamin B12 injections and received dietary advice.
One year later, the patient had hearing loss and vision difficulties, but the doctors did not find the cause.
By the time the patient had reached the age of 17, his vision had deteriorated to the point of becoming blind, according to the report. Further investigation revealed that the patient had vitamin B12 deficiency; low levels of copper, vitamin D and selenium; a high level of zinc; and reduction of bone mineral density. At this point, the patient's vision was permanently altered.
Researchers from Bristol Medical School and Bristol Eye Hospital examined the case and concluded that the patient's "undesirable" diet and "limited intake of vitamins and minerals" had led to the onset of diabetes. optic neuropathy, optic nerve dysfunction.
In developed countries, optic neuropathy for nutritional purposes is mainly caused by intestinal problems or medications that hinder the absorption of nutrients, noted the researchers. The disease is rarely caused entirely by an unhealthy diet because nutritious foods are readily available.
Elsewhere in the world, poverty, war and drugs are linked to higher rates of optic neuropathy, the researchers said.
If caught and treated early, the condition is reversible. If it is not treated, however, it can lead to blindness.
"Our vision has such an impact on quality of life, education, employment, social interactions and mental health," said Dr. Denize Atan, lead author of the study and ophthalmologist at Bristol Medical School and Bristol Eye Hospital. "This case highlights the impact of diet on visual and physical health and the fact that calorie intake and BMI are not reliable indicators of the health effects of diet. nutritional status. "
The researchers said that poor diet and limited intake of vitamins and minerals caused vision loss in this case. They warned that nutritional optic neuropathy could become more prevalent due to regular and widespread consumption of junk food around the world. And they also noted that the "growing popularity of veganism" could contribute to the prevalence of the disease "if the vegan diet is not supplemented appropriately to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency".
To prevent similar problems, doctors should interview patients about their dietary history as part of routine clinical examinations, the researchers advised.
"This may prevent the diagnosis of nutritional optic neuropathy from being omitted or delayed, as some associated visual losses may completely recover if nutritional deficiencies are treated early enough," they said.
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