Abstract
Purpose:
We studied the associations of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) with potential determinants (including smoking, body mass index and other cardiovascular risk factors) in subjects with at least one parent affected by neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods:
The Limpia Study is a double-blind, placebo controlled, prospective randomized clinical trial performed in 120 subjects with at least one parent affected by neovascular AMD. To be included, subjects had to be aged 40-70 years, have best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) greater than 20/25, be free of late AMD and other major eye conditions (severe glaucoma, high myopia, severe retinal disease, cataract surgery…). Subjects having used supplements containing lutein and/or zeaxanthin in the preceding year were not included. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured by two methods (modified Heidelberg Retinal Analyzer (HRA), Heidelberg, Germany and Visucam 200 MPD, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany). Body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2) was calculated from measured weight and height: weight/(height)2. Plasma lipids (total and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) were measured from fasting blood samples. Associations of MPOD with potential determinants were assessed by mixed linear models, taking into account the data from both eyes and their correlation.
Results:
After adjustment for age and gender, MPOD measured with modified HRA strongly decreased with increasing BMI (p=0.009, p=0.002 and p=0.0004, for MPOD within 0.5°, 1° and 2° respectively). Area of MPOD measured with Visucam MP also decreased with increasing BMI (p=0.002), while other parameters (volume, mean, maximum) showed no significant associations with BMI. Current smokers also tended to have lower MPOD measured with modified HRA, mainly for higher eccentricities (p=0.13, p=0.046, p=0.03 at 0.5°, 1° and 2°, respectively), but not for any MPOD parameters measured with Visucam MP. We observed no significant associations of MPOD with total or HDL-cholesterol.
Conclusions:
This study confirms a decrease of macular pigment density in subjects with high BMI and in current smokers, in a population of middle-aged subjects at high risk for AMD.
Keywords: 587 macular pigment •
618 nutritional factors •
412 age-related macular degeneration