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Study finds AMD progression linked to dietary fat intake
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Individuals with a high total fat intake have increased risk of progression of age-related macular degeneration over those with a lower fat intake, a prospective study found. The study authors note that this modifiable risk factor for AMD deserves further study.
Johanna M. Seddon, MD, ScM, and colleagues at the Harvard Medical School in Boston evaluated the relationship between dietary fat intake and progression of early or intermediate AMD to the advanced stages of the disease.
The prospective study included 261 patients aged 60 years and older who were followed for an average of 4.6 years. All patients showed some sign of nonexudative AMD and had a visual acuity of at least 20/200 in one or both eyes.
Higher total fat intakes increased the risk of progressing to advanced forms of AMD. This included saturated fats (P = .08), monounsaturated fats (P = .04), polyunsaturated fats (P = .04) and transunsaturated fats (P = .008).
The authors note that intake of fats from animals and vegetables were both associated with higher risks of progression, but only intake of vegetable fats was associated with a significant risk for progression (P = .003).
A higher intake of fish was associated with a lower risk of AMD progression among patients who also had lower intakes of linoleic acid. Intakes of nuts also appeared protective.
The study is published in Archives of Ophthalmology.