title: Frequency of fish consumption, retinal microvascular signs and vascular mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fish consumption has established cardiovascular and cerebrovascular benefits, but its effects on microvascular structure have not been examined in population-based studies. We investigated this association, in relation to vascular mortality in an Australian cohort (1992-2004).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 3654 participants aged 49+ years, 2683 (73%) with available data were included. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured, and signs of arterio-venous nicking and retinopathy were assessed from digital retinal images. Fish consumption was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both wider mean arteriolar diameter (p = 0.002) and narrower venular diameter (p = 0.02) were associated with increasing frequency of consuming any or oily fish, after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, diet, inflammatory factors and socioeconomic status. This association was mainly present in persons with hypertension. Greater frequency of fish consumption was associated with a reduced prevalence of arterio-venous nicking and a borderline significant trend for reduced retinopathy prevalence. Ten year stroke-related mortality was significantly lower in persons consuming fish at least once per week compared to less frequent consumption (hazard ratio 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent evidence shows that narrower arterioles and wider venules may predict vascular events. Our new findings suggest that the vascular protective effects of consuming fish could act, in part, by preventing pathological microvasculature change.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Austria.
authors: Shweta
authors: S
authors: Kaushik
authors: Jie Jin
authors: JJ
authors: Wang
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Flood
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Liew
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Smith
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood; D020521:Stroke / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000401:mortality*