The relationship of dietary lipid intake and age-related macular degeneration in a case-control study: AREDS Report No. 20.

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2007
Authors
Sangiovanni, John Paul; Chew, Emily Y; Clemons, Traci E; Davis, Matthew D; Ferris, Frederick L; Gensler, Gary R; Kurinij, Natalie; Lindblad, Anne S; Milton, Roy C; Seddon, Johanna M; Sperduto, Robert D; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group
Secondary
Arch Ophthalmol
Volume
125
Pagination
671-9
Date Published
2007 May
Keywords
Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case-Control Studies; Diet; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Energy Intake; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Odds Ratio; Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of lipid intake with baseline severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).

METHODS: Age-Related Eye Disease Study participants aged 60 to 80 years at enrollment (N = 4519) provided estimates of habitual nutrient intake through a self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Stereoscopic color fundus photographs were used to categorize participants into 4 AMD severity groups and a control group (participants with <15 small drusen).

RESULTS: Dietary total omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) intake was inversely associated with neovascular (NV) AMD (odds ratio [OR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.90), as was docosahexaenoic acid, a retinal omega-3 LCPUFA (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36-0.80), comparing highest vs lowest quintile of intake, after adjustment for total energy intake and covariates. Higher fish consumption, both total and broiled/baked, was also inversely associated with NV AMD (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37-1.00 and OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.93, respectively). Dietary arachidonic acid was directly associated with NV AMD prevalence (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.04-2.29). No statistically significant relationships existed for the other lipids or AMD groups.

CONCLUSION: Higher intake of omega-3 LCPUFAs and fish was associated with decreased likelihood of having NV AMD.