The effect of diet on inherited retinal dystrophy in the rat

The rate of photoreceptor cell degeneration was significantly retarded in albino rats afflicted with inherited retinal dystrophy by merely changing the food supply from a commercial lab chow to a well defined diet. The data suggest that female dystrophic rats may benefit somewhat more from this dietary manipulation than the males. A well defined fat-free diet was less successful than a standard defined diet in retarding the rate of retinal degeneration.