title: [Seasonal fluctuations and influence of nutrition on macular pigment density].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously reported on measuring macular pigment density (MPD) with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). This study war undertaken to evaluate the variation of MPD over a period of 1 year in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used autofluorescence images recorded with a HRA to evaluate MPD with a 2 degrees circle centered on the fovea. Healthy subjects were included in the study and MPD measurements were repeated every 2 months over a period of 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included a total of 30 healthy subjects aged 19-34 years (mean: 23+/-2 years). Mean MPD at time point 1 was 0.215+/-0.056 density units (DU), at time point 2 0.235+/-0.051 DU, at time point 3 0.218+/-0.055 DU, at time point 4 0.228+/-0.057 DU, at time point 5 0.225+/-0.053 DU, and at time point 6 0.203+/-0.050 DU. The statistical analysis revealed no significant variation of MPD over the follow-up period of 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that MPD shows no variation over a period of 1 year in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität, Dresden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mössner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wüstemeyer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schnurrbusch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments