The relationship of dietary carotenoid and vitamin A, E, and C intake with age-related macular degeneration in a case-control study: AREDS Report No. 22.

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2007
Authors
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group; Sangiovanni, John Paul; Chew, Emily Y; Clemons, Traci E; Ferris, Frederick L; Gensler, Gary; Lindblad, Anne S; Milton, Roy C; Seddon, Johanna M; Sperduto, Robert D
Secondary
Arch Ophthalmol
Volume
125
Pagination
1225-32
Date Published
2007 Sep
Keywords
Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ascorbic Acid; Carotenoids; Case-Control Studies; Choroidal neovascularization; Diet; Eating; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Lutein; Macular Degeneration; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Regression Analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship of dietary carotenoids, vitamin A, alpha-tocopherol, and vitamin C with prevalent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).

METHODS: Demographic, lifestyle, and medical characteristics were ascertained on 4519 AREDS participants aged 60 to 80 years at enrollment. Stereoscopic color fundus photographs were used to categorize participants into 4 AMD severity groups and a control group (participants with < 15 small drusen). Nutrient intake was estimated from a self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire at enrollment. Intake values were energy adjusted and classified by quintiles. The relationship between diet and AMD status was assessed using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Dietary lutein/zeaxanthin intake was inversely associated with neovascular AMD (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.93), geographic atrophy (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86), and large or extensive intermediate drusen (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96), comparing the highest vs lowest quintiles of intake, after adjustment for total energy intake and nonnutrient-based covariates. Other nutrients were not independently related to AMD.

CONCLUSION: Higher dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin was independently associated with decreased likelihood of having neovascular AMD, geographic atrophy, and large or extensive intermediate drusen.