Dietary factors, myopia, and axial dimensions in children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible associations between dietary factors and myopia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Eight hundred fifty-one Chinese schoolchildren from the Singapore Cohort Study of Risk Factors for Myopia.


METHODS
Diet was assessed using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Spherical equivalent (SE) refraction was assessed with an autorefractometer, and axial length (AL) by contact ultrasound A-scan biometry.


METHODS
Myopia was defined as SE< or =-0.5 diopters (D). Spherical equivalent and AL were analyzed by quartile groups.


RESULTS
The mean age (+/-standard deviation) was 12.81+/-0.83 years, approximately half were male (422 children [49.6%]), and 653 (73.8%) children had myopia. In multivariate models, AL was longest in the highest quartile group of total cholesterol intake compared with the lowest (adjusted mean [95% confidence interval], 24.66 [24.62-24.71] mm vs. 24.32 [24.27-24.36] mm; P = 0.026, for trend) and was longest in the highest quartile group of saturated fat intake compared with the lowest (24.65 [24.60-24.70] vs. 24.36 [24.32-24.41] mm; P = 0.039, for trend). None of the nutrients was associated with SE or a diagnosis of myopia.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher saturated fat and cholesterol intake are associated with longer AL in otherwise healthy Singapore Chinese schoolchildren.
Lim
Laurence S
LS
Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Gazzard
Gus
G
Low
Yen-Ling
YL
Choo
Robin
R
Tan
Donald T H
DT
Tong
Louis
L
Yin Wong
Tien
T
Saw
Seang-Mei
SM
D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats