Macular pigment and risk for age-related macular degeneration in subjects from a Northern European population.
OBJECTIVE
Age and advanced disease in the fellow eye are the two most important risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between these variables and the optical density of macular pigment (MP) in a group of subjects from a northern European population.


METHODS
The optical density of MP was measured psychophysically in 46 subjects ranging in age from 21 to 81 years with healthy maculae and in 9 healthy eyes known to be at high-risk of AMD because of advanced disease in the fellow eye. Each eye in the latter group was matched with a control eye on the basis of variables believed to be associated with the optical density of MP (iris color, gender, smoking habits, age, and lens density).


RESULTS
There was an age-related decline in the optical density of macular pigment among volunteers with no ocular disease (right eye: r(2) = 0.29, P = 0.0006; left eye: r(2) = 0.29, P < 0.0001). Healthy eyes predisposed to AMD had significantly less MP than healthy eyes at no such risk (Wilcoxon's signed rank test: P = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
The two most important risk factors for AMD are associated with a relative absence of MP. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin may delay, avert, or modify the course of this disease.
Beatty
S
S
University Department of Ophthalmology, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK. stephen@stiofanbetagh.demon.co.uk
Murray
I J
IJ
Henson
D B
DB
Carden
D
D
Koh
H
H
Boulton
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein