Macular pigment optical density in an ageing Irish population: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing.
OBJECTIVE
The 3 carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, which account for the 'yellow spot' at the macula and which are referred to as macular pigment (MP), are believed to play a role in visual function and protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via their optical and antioxidant properties. This study was undertaken to compare MP optical density (MPOD) in a population aged > or =50 years with MPOD values from a normative database of subjects aged 18-60 years.


METHODS
Seventy-nine subjects were recruited into this pilot study (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing-TILDA). MPOD was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Retinal fundus photographs, lifestyle data and general health data, were also obtained.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD age of the 79 subjects recruited into this study was 65 +/- 11 years. There was a moderate, but statistically significant, age-related decline in MPOD at 0.5 degrees in the TILDA data (r = -0.251, p = 0.045), which remained upon merging with a normative database of an additional 462 subjects aged between 18 and 67 years (r = -0.179, p = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
We report an inverse association between MPOD and increasing age. Longitudinal data in a larger cohort of participants are required to satisfactorily investigate the relationship between the optical density of this pigment and age, and with risk for development and/or progression of AMD. This pilot study represents a first step in this endeavour.
Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, and Institute of Vision Research, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, Ireland. jmnolan @ wit.ie
John M
JM
Nolan
Roseanne
R
Kenny
Claire
C
O'Regan
Hilary
H
Cronin
James
J
Loughman
Eithne E
EE
Connolly
Patricia
P
Kearney
Edward
E
Loane
Stephen
S
Beatty
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010783:Photometry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; C584722:meso-zeaxanthin; D014975:Lutein