Education Is Positively Associated with Macular Pigment: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Abstract

PURPOSE. The three carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and mesozeaxanthin, are found at the macula and referred to as macular pigment (MP). This study was undertaken to investigate determinants of MP in a large randomly selected sample from the Republic of Ireland (as part of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing [TILDA]).METHODS. MP optical density (MPOD) was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry in 4373 participants. Sociodemographic and self reported health data was obtained using computer assisted personal interview (CAPI). RESULTS. Mean (SD) MPOD

Supplemental Retinal Carotenoids Enhance Memory in Healthy Individuals with Low Levels of Macular Pigment in A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…These include: education (to a maximum of age 11-12 years), mid-life hypertension, mid-life obesity, hearing loss, late-life depression, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, and social isolation. Importantly, educational attainment is strongly correlated with socio-economic status, which in turn is associated with better health outcomes (e.g., physical activity [7], tobacco use [8], and healthier diets [9]. There is a growing body of evidence that good nutrition is important for optimal cognition [10] and maintenance of cognition [11] and is also associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, in later life [12].…”

Identification of Surrogate Biomarkers for the Prediction of Patients at Risk of Low Macular Pigment in Type 2 Diabetes

“…In the current study, a greater percentage of patients with diabetes had cataract (13.83%) compared with controls (6.51%), (p < .0001). Cataract status does not appear to relate to MPOD levels among non-diabetic individuals, 38 suggesting a relationship that is particular to cataract in the presence of Type 2 diabetes, which may impact MPOD levels in this patient group. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an association between low MPOD and the presence of cataract in diabetes.…”

“…Our finding that hypertensive participants with diabetes had significantly lower MPOD compared to normotensive participants with diabetes is important given that hypertension is an established risk factor for the development and progression of DR. 37 The association between MP and hypertension is not well documented; however, one study has reported a link between lower MPOD and a self-reported diagnosis of high blood pressure. 38 Chronic hypertension causes vascular endothelial shear stress and circumferential wall stress. 39 This, in turn, leads to endothelial damage, increased ROS production and activation of inflammatory cascades.…”

“…Serum lipoproteins (HDL, TG/HDL) and inflammatory markers (vitamin D, CRP) were analyzed and blood pressure was measured, which represents an advance on previous research carried out, research which was based on self-reported doctors' diagnosis of high cholesterol and hypertension. 38 The additional use of HbA1c helped identify undiagnosed and pre-diabetes cases. Finally, anthropometric measures such as WtHtR and WHpR, were used to analyse overweight/obesity in conjunction with BMI and WC.…”

A review of the putative causal mechanisms associated with lower macular pigment in diabetes mellitus

“…Higher BMI (114) and higher body fat percentage (101) have both been linked with an increased risk of AMD. Studies have reported an inverse relationship between adiposity and BMI and MPOD (99,115) , with the observed relationships largely attributable to participants with a BMI > 29 kg/m 2 (99) . One study found that higher body fat percentage, even within relatively healthy limits, was associated with lower retinal tissue lutein and zeaxanthin status (116) , suggesting that adiposity may affect the nutrient status of the retina.…”