Association between various types of obesity and macular pigment optical density.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the association between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and various types of obesity in the South-Indian population.


METHODS
In total, 300 eyes of 161 healthy volunteers of South-Indian origin were studied. MPOD was measured psychophysically at 0.25°, 0.50°, 1.00°, and 1.75° eccentricities from fovea. Anthropometric measurements included waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI). Using the WHO Expert Consultation guidelines, obesity was defined based on BMI alone (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m(2)), based on WC alone (WC ≥ 90 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women), and based on WHR alone (≥ 0.90 for men and ≥ 0.85 for women). Isolated generalized obesity was defined as increased BMI and normal WC. Isolated abdominal obesity was defined as increased WC and normal BMI. Combined obesity was defined as increased BMI and increased WC.


RESULTS
Mean MPOD at all eccentricities was not significantly different between men and women. Mean MPOD values did not significantly differ in various types of obesity, when compared with the normal subjects. On subgroup analysis, in age group ≥ 60 years, mean MPOD values were significantly higher in subjects with obesity based on BMI (0.61 vs 0.41, P=0.036), obesity based on WHR (0.67 vs 0.41, P=0.007), and isolated generalized obesity (0.66 vs 0.41, P=0.045) in comparison with normal subjects at 0.25° eccentricity.


CONCLUSIONS
We found lack of an association between MPOD and obesity in the South-Indian population. A similar finding was also noted on age group- and gender-wise analyses.
Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
A
A
Gupta
R
R
Raman
S
S
Biswas
R
R
Rajan
V
V
Kulothungan
T
T
Sharma
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult