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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139773
Title: NUTRITION IN VISION/CATARACTS IN NURSES/CATARACTS AND AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IN PHYSICIANS

Author
item TAYLOR, ALLEN - HNRCA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2001
Publication Date: 11/13/2001
Citation: Taylor, A. 2001. Nutrition in vision/cataracts in nurses/cataracts and age-related macular degeneration in physicians [abstract oral presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available: http://www.aao.org

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: METHODS: In 1993, we enrolled in the Nutrition and Vision Project (NVP) 603 of the 1,707 Boston area residents who were among the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) cohort and who were 54 to 73 years of age, were free of diagnosed cancer, and had both lenses intact. Between 1980 and 1995, the NVP/NHS members completed five food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) which account for over 90% of the total intake of the 70 nutrients measured by this instrument. Approximately five years after the baseline examination (11/1998 - 2/2000), 451 women completed the follow up examination. 407 had complete follow up data. The examinations included Nidek EAS 1000 digital Scheimpflugand retroillumination imaging. These images were subjected to computerized image analysis to generate a measure of severity of nuclear opacification (nuclear mean density, NMD) expressed in pixel density units (PDU). ANALYSES: Mean change in NMD between baseline and five-year follow up was compared between categories of nutrient intake by analysis of covariance using SAS PROC MIXED procedure. RESULTS: The mean age of the women at follow up was 67 years. The subjects were, in general, well nourished. NMD scores ranged from 19-102 at baseline and 32-213 at follow up. 89.6% of the 814 lenses changed >10 PDU during the 5 years. Change in NMD scores was 29% lower in users of Vitamin E supplements for >10 years (P=0.004).The OR for having NMD of >/=60 PDU at follow up was 0.30 (P=0.01) for users of Vitamin E supplements >/=10 years after correcting for baseline NMD. Use of other vitamin supplements was not significantly associated with progress for opacity.