title: Spatial Distribution of Macular Pigment in an Elderly French Population: The Montrachet Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe the spatial distribution and cross-sectional associations with physical and lifestyle attributes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants of the Montrachet (Maculopathy Optic Nerve, nuTRition neurovAsCular and HEarT) study underwent an exhaustive ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography, to measure retinal thickness. The spatial distribution of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) defined as a ring-like, intermediate or no-ring pattern, was assessed by means of the two-wavelength autofluorescence technique. Blood samples were taken to measure plasma lutein and zeaxanthin using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 635 subjects with good-quality MPOD measurements. The mean age was 82.0 ± 3.4 years. A ring-like structure was found in 109 (17.2%) participants. Participants with a ring-like spatial distribution had a thinner macula in the central subfield (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, individuals never protecting themselves from sunlight and with dark iris color were less likely to present a ring-like than a no-ring spatial distribution (P = 0.033 and P = 0.013, respectively). Only in males were lutein plasma levels higher in ring-like and intermediate MPOD profiles than in no-ring structures (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59 for 100 additional μg; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-2.18 and OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.17-2.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population-based study, individuals never protecting themselves from sunlight, and with dark iris color and a thinner macula were less prone to displaying a ring-like MPOD spatial distribution.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, CIC 1432, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Dijon, France; University Hospital, Clinical Center Investigation, Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Trials Unit, Dijon, France 2Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alassane
authors.affiliation: INSERM, CIC 1432, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Dijon, France; University Hospital, Clinical Center Investigation, Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Trials Unit, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binquet
authors.affiliation: Dijon University Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arnould
authors.affiliation: Dijon University Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Niyazi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Univ Bordeaux, ISPED, Bordeaux, France 5INSERM, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delcourt
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bretillon
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France 3Dijon University Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Alain M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bron
authors.affiliation: Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France 3Dijon University Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Creuzot-Garcher
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D065348:Macular Pigment / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D065348:Macular Pigment