Abstract
Purpose :
The relationship of HbA1C and serum lipid levels with macular pigment optical density measurements (MOPD) was explored. The relationship between severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR), MOPD and neuronal layer loss was also investigated.
Methods :
204 participants were recruited to the DECAN study at Frimley Park Hospital. Outcome measures were dietary intake assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), optical coherence tomography (OCT), MOPD, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum lipids.
Results :
At 12 months no correlations were evident between the FFQ data and severity of retinopathy or maculopathy. The association between HbA1c, serum lipids and MOPD were then explored at baseline. A positive association was seen between higher HBa1c levels with lower MOPD scores r = - 0.146, P = 0.044 and triglycerides with MOPD r = -0.226, p = 0.035 which was also statistically significant. When a repeated measures ANOVA was run using data across all 3 visits, only triglyceride was statistically significant (p=0.012), with a negative coefficient indicating that lower levels of triglyceride were associated with higher levels of macular pigment.
Conclusions :
The data suggests that MPOD level is not statistically significantly influenced by the level of HbA1C but higher levels of MPOD values are positively associated with lower levels of triglycerides. No association was seen between MOPD scores, FFQ and OCT. Further research is needed.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.