title: The spatial profile of macular pigment in subjects from a Singapore Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the spatial profile of macular pigment (MP) and its relationship with serum concentrations of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) in subjects from a Singapore Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, the following details were recorded in 95 healthy subjects: sociodemographic, lifestyle information, body mass index (BMI), visual acuity, MP spatial profile using a macular densitometer, and serum L and Z.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) age of the population was 42.40 (± 13) years, ranging from 21 to 68 years. Females demonstrated significantly lower MP optical density (MPOD) than males (MPOD: females = 0.52 ± 0.17; males = 0.61 ± 0.21, P = 0.03). MP spatial profile was typical and atypical with central dip in 68 (85%) and 12 (15%) subjects, respectively. Age and BMI were found to be significant predictors for atypical MP spatial profile (age: odds ratio, OR = 1.06, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.01-1.13, P = 0.04; BMI: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01-1.34, P = 0.03). A positive relationship was observed between MPOD and serum concentrations of L and Z, but only the latter relationship reached statistical significance (serum L: r = 0.12, P = 0.30; serum Z: r = 0.26, P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A central dip in MP spatial profile was observed with older age and higher BMI, the two known risk factors for AMD, suggesting that atypical MP spatial profile may be associated with an increased risk of AMD. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kumari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neelam
authors.forename: Henrietta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chee Chew
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Wenyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kah-Guan Au
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Eong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein
keywords: lutein; macular pigment; zeaxanthin