Posted June 27, 2013: by Bill Sardi
Studies reveal calcium and iron dietary supplements modestly increase the risk for glaucoma, but dietary sources of these two minerals are not implicated. Plant foods include natural controllers of calcium (IP6 phytate) and iron (IP6 phytate, polyphenols, bioflavonoids) which may explain this reported difference between supplemental and dietary sources of these minerals.
Consumption of 800 milligrams/day or more of calcium pills or 18 milligrams or more of supplemental iron increase the odds for glaucoma compared to non-supplement users.
Another abnormal eye condition involving calcification is corneal band keratopathy which is evidenced by a visible horizontal deposition of calcium in a band across the inner central cornea (front window) of the eyes. High blood serum calcium levels are associated with this eye condition. Normalization of blood calcium levels may resolve this problem. Calcium chelators (key-lay-tors) that bind to excess calcium were used decades ago but there are no modern reports of chelation therapy to treat band keratopathy. This condition is associated with endocrine gland disorders such as sarcoidosis or pituitary cancer or kidney failure (kidney filters and excretes calcium).
Published reports do not associate band keratopathy with menopause or osteoporosis in females, which raises blood levels of calcium as this mineral is lost from bones. However, the calcium loss with the change of life in females is gradual and apparently is not severe enough to induce band keratopathy.
Mega-dose vitamin D has been employed experimentally in animals to produce band keratopathy, however in humans it took over 150,000 units of vitamin D per day to produce this same effect in humans. Vitamin D can induce hyper-calcification, but accidental overdoses are required.
Regardless of its cause, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium and IP6 phytate (extracted from rice bran) would serve as natural calcium chelators for calcium deposits in this uncommon eye condition. IP6 rice bran extract chelates both calcium and iron. Whether avoidance of calcium and iron supplements and natural calcium and iron chelators would be beneficial for glaucoma patients remains untested. -©2013 Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc.
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