title: Intake of key micronutrients and food groups in patients with late-stage age-related macular degeneration compared with age-sex-matched controls.
abstract: Knowledge of the risk factor profile of patients presenting with late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could help identify the most frequent modifiable AMD precursors among people who are referred for treatment. We aimed to assess dietary behaviours by comparing adjusted mean intakes of micronutrients and major food groups (fruits, vegetables, fish) among patients with AMD and a sample of age-sex-matched controls.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional analysis of 480 late AMD cases and 518 population-based age-sex-matched controls with no AMD signs. AMD cases (aged 60+ years) were those presenting for treatment to a hospital eye clinic in Sydney, Australia, during 2012-2015. The comparator group were obtained from a cohort study (Blue Mountains Eye Study; Sydney, Australia) during 2002-2009. Dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. AMD lesions were assessed from retinal photographs.
  
  
  
  After multivariable adjustment, patients with late-stage AMD compared with controls had significantly lower intakes of vitamin E (7.4 vs 9.8 mg/day; p<0.0001), beta-carotene (6232 vs 7738 μg/day; p<0.0001), vitamin C (161 vs 184 mg/day; p=0.0002) and folate (498.3 vs 602 μg/day; p<0.0001); but had higher intakes of zinc (13.0 vs 11.9 mg/day; p<0.0001). A significantly lower proportion of patients with late AMD met the recommended intake of vegetables than controls: 52.9% versus 64.5%; p=0.0002.
  
  
  
  This study showed significant differences in intakes of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, folate and vegetables between patients with late-stage AMD and healthy controls, and thus has provided a better understanding of the nutritional intake of patients presenting with advanced AMD.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Bamini
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cosatto
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burlutsky
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005396:Fish Products; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D014675:Vegetables; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Epidemiology; Macula; Public health