Diet and risk factors for age-related maculopathy.
BACKGROUND
Evidence continues to accumulate that oxidative stress is etiologically important in the pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and that appropriate antioxidants of dietary origin may protect against this condition.


OBJECTIVE
Risk factors for ARM may be classed as established or putative. We report a study designed to investigate whether such risk factors are associated with a dietary lack of antioxidants relevant to retinal health.


METHODS
Dietary, anthropometric, and sociodemographic details relating to 828 healthy Irish subjects aged 20-60 y were recorded in a cross-sectional fashion and analyzed for associations between risk factors for ARM and dietary intake of relevant nutrients.


RESULTS
Of the established risk factors for ARM, increasing age was associated with a relative lack of dietary zeaxanthin (P < 0.05) and tobacco use with a relative lack of dietary vitamin C (P < 0.05). Of the putative risk factors for ARM, alcohol consumption was associated with a relative lack of dietary alpha-linoleic acid (P < 0.05), and female sex was associated with a relative lack of dietary zinc (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We showed that several variables related to risk for ARM are associated with a relative dietary lack of key nutrients. Our finding that age, the most important and universal risk factor for ARM, is associated with a relative lack of dietary zeaxanthin, is an important finding that warrants further investigation.
O'Connell
Eamonn D
ED
Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. dreamonnoconnell@iolfree.ie
Nolan
John M
JM
Stack
Jim
J
Greenberg
David
D
Kyle
Janet
J
Maddock
Leighanne
L
Beatty
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid