title: Education is positively associated with macular pigment: the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The three carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, are found at the macula and referred to as macular pigment (MP). This study was undertaken to investigate determinants of MP in a large randomly selected sample from the Republic of Ireland (as part of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing [TILDA]).
  
  
  METHODS
  MP optical density (MPOD) was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry in 4373 participants. Sociodemographic and self reported health data was obtained using computer assisted personal interview (CAPI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) MPOD for the study group was 0.203 (0.156) with a range of 0 to 1.01. MPOD was higher for participants with secondary education (mean [SD] = 0.205 [0.148]) than for those with only primary education or no education (mean [SD] = 0.183 [0.113]; P < 0.001). MPOD was also higher for those with tertiary education (mean [SD] = 0.232 [0.231]) compared with primary/no education or secondary education (P < 0.001 for both comparisons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report that MP is lower amongst those participants of a population-representative study who did not have secondary or third level education when compared with participants who had such education. Given the emerging evidence that MP is important for visual performance and comfort, and given the putative protection that this pigment confers against AMD (especially important in the context of increased risk of AMD in this social group), public health measures aimed at improving diet for this at-risk population need to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Macular Pigment Research Group in the Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. jmnolan@wit.ie
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Rose Anne
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Savva
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughman
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finucane
authors.forename: Eithne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000502:physiology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments