Abstract
Purpose :
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between retinal neuronal layer changes assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with dietary intake of foods in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes with or without diabetic retinopathy.
Methods :
Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients were recruited from the diabetic eye clinics at Frimley Park Hospital. A cross sectional study with a longitudinal element was carried out, 204 participants were recruited to the DECAN study. Outcome measures were dietary intake assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Results :
The results of the study showed that both outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) showed statistically significant associations with Vitamin B12, Pantothenic acid, copper and selenium. Selenium was seen to be associated with a thinner INL. The ONL showed a statistically significant association with vitamin B12, indicating that an increase in Vitamin B12 results in a thicker ONL whereas an increase in pantothenic acid is also associated with a thinner ONL.
Conclusions :
This study has added to the growing evidence that oxidative stress, antioxidants and neurodegeneration are critical factors in the pathogenies of diabetic retinopathy early on.
The study showed promising results for further research that could lead to an interventional trial using a supplementation of selenium which has not been previously reported.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.