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Menopause, vitamin B6 intake associated with posterior vitreous detachment
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Menopause and high intake of vitamin B6 were independent risk factors for development of posterior vitreous detachment, a retrospective case-control study found. There was a statistically significant association between vitamin B6 and posterior vitreous detachment among premenopausal women, but not among postmenopausal women, the study found.
Jean Y. Chuo, MD, and colleagues reviewed data for 138 patients with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and for 114 age-matched control patients. After controlling for age, the researchers found that PVD was significantly associated with female sex (P = .016), myopia (P < .0005) and higher vitamin B6 intake (P = .001).
A sub-analysis of women in the study showed that PVD was significantly associated with menopause (P < .0005), myopia (P = .01) and higher vitamin B6 intake (P = .005). The association between PVD and B6 intake was significant only for premenopausal women, not for postmenopausal women, the study authors said.
"An association between PVD and menopause has not been documented previously. We suspect that high estrogen levels seen in premenopausal women may be protective against PVD and that hormonal changes associated with menopause may lead to changes in the vitreous, predisposing to PVD," the researchers said. Higher vitamin B6 intake may have an anti-estrogen effect in premenopausal women, which may contribute to PVD development, they said.
The study is published in the December issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.