May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
Glycaemic Index and 10-Year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
S. Kaushik; J. J. Wang; V. Flood; E. Rochtchina; J. S. L. Tan; J. Brand-Miller; A. Barclay; P. Mitchell; Blue Mountains Eye Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • S. Kaushik
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
  • J. J. Wang
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
  • V. Flood
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
    Department of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences,
  • E. Rochtchina
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
  • J. S. L. Tan
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
  • J. Brand-Miller
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences,
  • A. Barclay
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences,
  • P. Mitchell
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute),
  • Blue Mountains Eye Study
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships S. Kaushik, None; J.J. Wang, None; V. Flood, None; E. Rochtchina, None; J.S.L. Tan, None; J. Brand-Miller, None; A. Barclay, None; P. Mitchell, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support Australian RADGAC grant (1992-94) and NHMRC grant 932085, 974159, 211069
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 1148. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      Glycaemic Index and 10-Year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      S. Kaushik, J. J. Wang, V. Flood, E. Rochtchina, J. S. L. Tan, J. Brand-Miller, A. Barclay, P. Mitchell, Blue Mountains Eye Study; Glycaemic Index and 10-Year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):1148.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose:: Glycaemic index (0 to 100) ranks carbohydrate foods based on the blood glucose response to that food compared to 50 grams of glucose. Low glycaemic index foods (<55) are thought to provide cardiovascular protection. We investigated the relationship between average dietary glycaemic index and the 10-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Blue Mountains Eye Study cohort.

Methods:: Of 3654 baseline participants aged 49+years (1992-4); 2335 (75.1% of survivors) were re-examined after 5 (1997-9) and 1952 (75.6% of survivors) after 10 years (2002-4). At each visit retinal photographs were taken and participants completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire. Glycaemic index was calculated from an Australian database. AMD was assessed from retinal photos using the Wisconsin Grading System, and the incidence was confirmed using a side-by-side grading method. Incident early AMD was defined in subjects without early or late AMD, and incident late AMD was defined in subjects without late AMD, in either eye at baseline.

Results:: Mean glycaemic index of foods consumed in the baseline population was 57 (standard deviation 5), comparable to U.S. studies. Over 10 years, 72 of 2395 at risk subjects developed late AMD, and 266 of 2255 developed early AMD. After controlling for age, gender, smoking, history of heart disease, white cell count and consumption of fish, anti-oxidants and either carbohydrates or fats, participants within the highest quartile of energy-adjusted glycaemic index (compared to the lowest quartile) had an increased risk of incident early AMD (risk ratio, RR, 1.69, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.05-2.72), or indistinct soft or reticular drusen (RR, 1.65 CI, 1.01-2.80). Participants consuming the highest quartile of breads and cereals (predominantly low glycaemic index foods like oatmeal and wholemeal/grain breads) had a lower risk of incident early AMD (HR, 0.86, CI, 0.75-0.98). Glycaemic index was not associated with incident late AMD. Excluding persons with diabetes did not alter results.

Conclusions:: Eating higher glycaemic index foods predicted the development of early AMD, independent of other AMD risk factors, whereas eating lower glycaemic index foods was protective against early AMD. The glycaemic index of foods provides another potential area for dietary advice for patients at risk of AMD.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • nutritional factors 
© 2007, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept