Abstract
Purpose::
There is a growing body of evidence that oxidative stress is aetiologically important in the pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM), and that appropriate antioxidants of dietary origin may protect against this condition. Risk factors for ARM may be classed as established or putative, and we report a study designed to investigate whether such risk factors are associated with a dietary lack of antioxidants important for retinal health.
Methods::
Dietary, anthropometric and demographic details relating to 828 healthy Irish subjects, aged 20 to 60 years, were recorded in a cross-sectional fashion, and analysed for associations between risk factors for ARM and dietary intake of nutrients relevant to ocular health.
Results::
Of the established risk factors for ARM, increasing age was associated with a relative lack of dietary zeaxanthin (Z) (P<0.05) and tobacco use with a relative lack of dietary vitamin C (P<0.05). Of the putative risk factors for ARM, alcohol consumption was associated with a relative lack of dietary α-linoleic acid (ALA) (P<0.05), female gender with a relative lack of dietary zinc (P<0.05), hypercholesterolaemia (self-reported) with a relative lack of dietary vitamin A (P<0.01) and of dietary zinc (P<0.05) and blue irides with a relative lack of dietary lutein (L) (P<0.05).
Conclusions::
We have demonstrated that several variables related to risk for ARM are associated with a relative dietary lack of key nutrients. Our finding that age, the most important and universal risk factor for ARM, is associated with a relative lack of dietary Z, is an important finding which warrants further investigation.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • antioxidants • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment