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CNN) – Eat a
diet
According to a case study published in a medical journal, it would be enough to 16 French fries, pringles and white bread to lose sight of a teenager.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have examined the case of a young patient extremely picky
while eating
led to blindness, and warned of the dangers of unhealthy diets.
The unidentified patient told doctors that he had eaten only fries in the fish and chips shop, Pringles chips, white bread, slices of processed ham and sausages since the day before. 39, primary school, and he avoided foods with certain textures. He first consulted a doctor at the age of 14, complaining of fatigue, according to a case report published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
He was not taking any medication, had a normal BMI and height, and showed no visible signs of malnutrition.
Doctors have discovered low levels of vitamin B12 and anemia, treating the patient with vitamin B12 injections and offering dietary advice.
One year later, there were signs of hearing loss and vision symptoms, but doctors did not find the cause.
His vision worsened to blindness at age 17 and doctors identified vitamin B12 deficiency, low copper and selenium levels, high zinc levels, reduced vitamin levels D and bone density, according to a report.
declaration
from the University of Bristol.
At this point, the visual damage was permanent.
Researchers at Bristol Medical School and Bristol Eye Hospital examined the case and concluded that the patient had optic neuropathy, an optic nerve dysfunction.
In developed countries, it is mainly caused by intestinal problems or by medications that hinder the absorption of nutrients, and it is rarely caused entirely by poor nutrition because foods are readily available.
In some areas, malnutrition caused by poverty, war and drought is linked to higher rates of optic neuropathy, according to a statement.
This condition is reversible if treated early, but may result in blindness if no action is taken.
"Our vision has such an impact on quality of life, education, employment, social interactions and mental health," said lead author of the study, Denize Atan, 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 say that poor diet and reduced mineral consumption resulted in vision loss, and warned that nutritional optic neuropathy could become more common due to junk food consumption.
They also asked vegans to take vitamin B12 supplements to avoid deficiencies.
To prevent similar cases, doctors should interview patients about their dietary history as part of routine clinical examinations, the researchers asked.
Extreme example
Tom Sanders, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, criticized the case report, saying that he relied on the patient's recall of his eating habits and did not take account for other possible explanations for the disease, including genetic abnormalities or genetic abnormalities. environmental exposures.
"Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause optic neuropathy, but it is very unusual to find a dietary deficiency when animal products are eaten, such as ham and sausages that are an important source of vitamin B12." he told the Science Media Center in London.
Gary Frost, professor of nutrition and dietetics at Imperial College London, who did not participate in the research, told CNN that it was extremely rare for a Briton to have a diet so limited that it results in micronutrient deficiencies.
"While this is an extreme example, it highlights the importance of a wide and varied diet for you to get the nutrient and micronutrient profile necessary for healthy development," Frost said.
These deficiencies are all the more likely as the choice of food is limited, he added.
"Difficult meals are very common in young children and, in extreme cases, they can lead to a very limited choice of foods," Frost said.
"It is necessary to tackle consumer problems of this type as soon as possible to solve the problem of limited textures and tastes."
The-CNN-Wire
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