title: Age-related maculopathy and consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits in urban elderly.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of age-related maculopathy among elderly males and females in relation to frequency of consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit. During ophthalmological investigation of Kaunas city inhabitants aged 65-74 years (240 males and 206 females) age-related maculopathy (early and late) was determined for 22.1% of males and 20.4% of females. Frequency of usage of fresh (uncooked) vegetables and fruits in winter-spring and in summer-autumn seasons by investigated persons was determined, using food frequency questionnaire. In this work an association between age-related maculopathy and usage of vegetables and fruits has been investigated in 170 males and 181 females aged 65-74 years without diabetes who never smoked; age-related maculopathy was found for 18.8% of males and 17.7% of females. Obtained data have demonstrated an inverse association between consumption of vegetables during winter-spring season and age-related maculopathy: usage of vegetables two times a week or more versus usage less than two times a week decreases prevalence of age-related maculopathy 2.0 times among males (OR=0.42; 95% CI 0.18-1.0; p=0.05) and 2.2 times among females (OR=0.37; 95% CI 0.15-0.9; p=0.02). Data have demonstrated a tendency that increasing consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits during both seasons can reduce risk of age-related maculopathy among females. In conclusion, characteristic for Lithuanian urban elderly rare usage of fresh vegetables during winter-spring season can increase risk of age-related maculopathy independently from other risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 17, 3007 Kaunas, Lithuania. klbioch@kmu.lt
authors.forename: Ramute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaicaitiene
authors.forename: Dalia K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Luksiene
authors.forename: Alvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paunksnis
authors.forename: Liucija Rita
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cerniauskiene
authors.forename: Stanislava
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Domarkiene
authors.forename: Andrius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cimbalas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014675:Vegetables