Age-related macular degeneration and antioxidant status in the POLA study. POLA Study Group. Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age.
OBJECTIVE
To give the levels of antioxidant nutrients in relation to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Pathologies Oculaires Liees a l'Age is a population-based study on cataract and AMD and their risk factors, carried out on 2584 inhabitants of Sete, France. Age-related macular degeneration was defined by findings from fundus photographs according to an international classification. Biological measurements were taken from fasting blood samples.


RESULTS
After multivariate adjustment, plasma alpha-to-copherol levels showed a weak negative association with late AMD (P = .07). Lipid-standardized plasma alpha-tocopherol levels showed a significant negative association with late AMD (P= .003): the risk of late AMD was reduced by 82% in the highest quintile compared with the lowest. Similarly, lipid-standardized plasma alpha-tocopherol levels were inversely associated with early signs of AMD (odds ratio, 0.72 [95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.98]; P=.04). No associations were found with plasma retinol and ascorbic acid levels or with red blood cell glutathione values.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that vitamin E may provide protection against AMD. Only randomized interventional studies could prove the protective effect of vitamin E on AMD.
Delcourt
C
C
INSERM Unité 500, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Montpellier, France. delcourt@u500.montp.inserm.fr
Cristol
J P
JP
Tessier
F
F
Léger
C L
CL
Descomps
B
B
Papoz
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid