Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in the fellow eye of individuals with unilateral advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with eyes of individuals with no AMD; and to evaluate the dietary and plasma levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, lipoprotein, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) profile in these two cohorts.
Methods: :
Patients selected in the AMD group had advanced AMD (choroidal neovascularization or geographic atrophy) in one eye and large drusen with visual acuity 20/40 or better in the fellow eye (study eye). Heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP), using a standardized protocol, was performed to determine the MPOD in the study eye of the AMD group as well as a control group consisting of one eye (randomly selected) of age matched individuals with no AMD (less than 5 small drusen no larger than 63 microns in diameter). Both groups completed detailed food frequency questionnaires and any individual taking greater than 275 micrograms of lutein supplements was excluded. Dietary levels and plasma levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, lipoproteins, and DHA in the AMD group and controls were compared.
Results: :
MPOD results were obtained for 19 eyes of 19 individuals in the AMD group, and 21 eyes of 21 individuals in the control group. Individuals in the AMD group had a slightly higher mean MPOD level (0.457) than those in the control group (0.418). The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.5413). There were no statistically significant differences between the AMD group and the control group with regard to dietary and plasma levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, lipoproteins, and DHA.
Conclusions: :
Eyes with AMD did not demonstrate a deficiency of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula compared to age matched controls. No differences were detected in dietary and plasma levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, lipoproteins and DHA.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • carotenoids/carotenoid binding proteins • macular pigment