Evidence supporting the use of: Cantaloupe
For the health condition: Night Blindness

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Cantaloupe is scientifically justified as a supportive food for night blindness due to its high content of provitamin A carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Night blindness (nyctalopia) is most commonly caused by a deficiency of vitamin A, which is essential for the formation of rhodopsin, a visual pigment required for seeing in low-light conditions. Cantaloupe provides a significant amount of beta-carotene, which the body can convert into active vitamin A (retinol). According to the USDA, one cup of cantaloupe contains approximately 270 micrograms of vitamin A (as beta-carotene), contributing a substantial portion of the recommended daily intake.

Numerous clinical and nutritional studies have established that increasing dietary intake of vitamin A or its precursors can help prevent or treat night blindness caused by deficiency. While cantaloupe itself has not typically been the subject of direct intervention studies for night blindness, its beta-carotene content is well recognized as a source of vitamin A in the diet. Both the World Health Organization and other authoritative bodies recommend foods rich in provitamin A carotenoids, such as cantaloupe, as part of strategies to address vitamin A deficiency and related vision problems.

Therefore, while cantaloupe is not a medicine, but rather a dietary source, its use to support or help prevent night blindness is scientifically valid due to its nutritional profile, with moderate evidence supporting its role as part of a vitamin A-rich diet.

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