Abstract
Purpose :
Macular pigment (MP) may serve as a marker of general health, and intake of dietary carotenoids with anti-inflammatory properties. We evaluated the association between MP and prevalent inflammatory disease in a longitudinal study of post-menopausal women.
Methods :
This analysis includes 316 women (mean age=80.3, standard deviation [SD]=5.1 years) in CAREDS who completed 15-year follow-up visits (April 2016-October 2017) including MP testing and a questionnaire including self-reported physician diagnoses of inflammatory diseases. MP optical density (MPOD) was measured in the best eye at 0.5 degrees (reference of 7 degrees) from the foveal center using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Odds ratios (ORs) for each unit increase in MPOD were estimated for both specific and grouped inflammatory diseases using logistic regression, adjusting for age, smoking, and central adiposity (waist-hip ratio).
Results :
Inflammatory disease was reported by 70% of women, with non-rheumatoid arthritis being the most common (63%), followed by rheumatoid arthritis (8%). Since few or no women reported Crohn’s disease/colitis, Sjogren’s syndrome (1.9% for both), celiac disease (0.6%), or lupus (0), these conditions were not evaluated further. Mean MPOD was 0.6 (SD=0.3) units. In adjusted regression models, no significant associations were observed, but the direction indicated lower odds of disease with higher MP, with an odds ratio of 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3, 1.2) for any inflammatory disease. Similarly reduced odds ratios were found for rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid arthritis. Sensitivity analyses showed stronger protective associations among women for conditions thought to promote inflammation: lower serum 25 (OH) vitamin D (OR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.1, 1.1); high dietary saturated fat and low dietary fiber intakes (OR=0.3, 95% CI: 0.0, 2.7); and greater central adiposity (OR=0.1, 95% CI: 0.0, 0.5). Trends in associations with MP at baseline and change in MPOD over 15 years were similar.
Conclusions :
Although not significant, there was a trend towards decreased odds of any inflammatory disease or arthritis with higher MPOD in older women, particularly in those with other inflammation-related conditions.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.