Increased niacin intake may reduce glaucoma risk, particularly in women
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Key takeaways:
- Increased niacin intake was associated with decreased odds for glaucoma.
- Researchers observed a positive effect of niacin among women but not men.
Higher levels of niacin intake were associated with a decreased risk for glaucoma among participants in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, according to study results published in the Journal of Glaucoma.
Researchers additionally observed an association between increased niacin intake and decreased risk for glaucoma among women but not men.
“Currently, the relationship between glaucoma risk and dietary nutrient intake is not well understood,” Samuel Y. Lee, BA, from the Stein and Doheny Eye Institutes at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and colleagues wrote. “Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a nutrient that is converted to nicotinamide adenine nucleotide and used to extract energy from dietary macromolecules and maintain genetic integrity.”
They continued, “There is a need for additional epidemiologic studies of dietary niacin intake and its association with glaucoma among more populations.”
For this reason, researchers sought to examine the association between dietary niacin intake and glaucoma among 5,371 individuals (mean age, 59.4 years; 50.2% men; 53.8% white; 1% with glaucoma) included in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mean dietary niacin intake was 23.1 mg.
Results of multivariable analyses showed that every 1 mg increase in niacin intake was associated with 6% decreased odds for glaucoma (adjusted OR = 0.94). When stratified by sex, every 1 mg increase in niacin intake was associated with 11% lower odds for glaucoma among women (fully adjusted OR = 0.89) but not among men (fully adjusted OR = 0.96).
“In women, there was also a significant association between higher levels of niacin intake and lower glaucoma risk in fully adjusted binary models,” the researchers wrote. “No similarly significant associations were found in men in partially or fully adjusted models. Spline analysis suggested a linear relationship between increasing niacin intake values and decreased prevalence of glaucoma across various smoothing parameters, though the prevalence of glaucoma was too low to confirm such an association and repeat tests for linearity are warranted in future studies.”
Further research is needed to better understand the role of niacin in glaucoma pathogenesis and of potential sex-specific differences in this association, researchers concluded.
Editor's note: On Sept. 29, 2023, this article was updated to correct the image caption. Healio regrets the error.
Perspective
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The next frontier in glaucoma prevention lies in tailored and natural strategies. Lifestyle modifications, including nutrition, will play a much larger role in the optometrist’s game plan. The finding that niacin intake may decrease glaucoma risk in women (but not in men) is a perfect illustration of such an intersection of individualized risk assessment and prevention. A holistic approach to glaucoma care is not simply a slogan but is starting to be backed by the literature. That having been said, the public should be very cautious about being led into a false sense of security that supplements alone can inoculate them from glaucoma risk.
As with any therapy, experts must be consulted, and data must be studied carefully. Proper context should also be provided. Patients on glaucoma medication or requiring surgery can’t simply discontinue treatment and take vitamins. Scientifically proven supplementation in concert with cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic options holds promise for the future of glaucoma management.
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