Abstract
Purpose: :
To examin the intake of lutein, vitamins A – C – E as well as fruits and vegetables, and the intake of omega–3 polyunsatured fatty acids present in fish, and then evaluate their function in altering the prevalence of age–related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Participants: :
People (N=3000; 1857 women, 1143 men) aged from 43 to 87 years old.
Methods: :
Subjects with ARMD were identified by an ocular fundus exam in direct ophthalmoscopy and then classified in 4 different clinical categories in order to gravity. They were also placed in order to age and sex in 4 groups to quantify as well as possible the prevalence in each one. A 100–items self–administered, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was fairly completed by all participants and was used to assess intakes of lutein, vitamins A–C–E and Omega–3 polyunsatured fatty acids. All people were also subjected to the Amsler’s grid test to evaluate visual impediments.
Results: :
Our epidemiologic data indicate a relationship between lutein, vitamins and omega–3 polyunsatured fatty acids and Age–Related Macular Degeneration: prevalence observed in our population–based study resulted inferior than the AREDS’s one, suggesting those compounds can play a protective role in the eye.
Conclusions: :
An intake of dark green leafy vegetables, fruits and regular consumption of fish, like in Mediterranean diet, appears to be beneficial in protecting retinal tissues, but this is not proven. Future investigations on the role of nutrition may better explain the association with risk of ARMD.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • antioxidants • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence