Macular pigment levels, adiposity inversely associated in men, with possible implications for AMD

Higher levels of body fat in men were associated with a relative lack of macular pigment in a study in Ireland. The researchers suggest that this relationship may underlie the association between body fat and the progression of age-related macular degeneration in men.

The study also found that the accumulation and stabilization of lutein and zeaxanthin in fat tissue appears to differ for men and women.

John Nolan and colleagues in Waterford, Ireland, studied the relationships between percentage of body fat and macular pigment density in 100 healthy subjects between the ages of 22 and 60 years. Body fat was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and body mass index was calculated for each participant as well. The macular pigment optical density was measured psychophysically, serum lutein and zeaxanthin were quantified, and dietary intake of the two was assessed using a questionnaire.

The researchers found a significant inverse relationship between the percentage of body fat and the macular pigment optical density in the male participants (P < .01). After correcting for age and dietary lutein and zeaxanthin, the inverse relationship remained significant, the authors said. Macular pigment optical density and body fat percentages were inversely related in women, but not significantly so.

In women only, a significant and inverse relationship was found between serum zeaxanthin and body fat percentage. In both sexes, dietary intake of fat was inversely related to lutein (P < .05). Dietary fat was not related to macular pigment optical density.

The study is published in the November issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.