The association between dietary intake of anti-oxidants and risk of ocular disease: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

A case-control study was conducted to assess the association between dietary intake of antioxidants and the risk of oxidative stress related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration in the New Zealand population. A total of 78 cases and 149 controls were enrolled in our study of both sexes, aged over 18 years of age. Participants were sought from the University of Auckland Optometry and Vision Science clinic database as cases for the study, and University of Auckland Hearing and Tinnitus clinic database as controls for the study. Participants were mailed a dietary questionnaire covering the average frequency of consumption of 31 food items and beverages. Analyses were conducted through multiple logistic regression. The analysis was performed taking oxidative stress related eye diseases as the general outcome (cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration combined). Of the food groups analysed, we identified significant inverse associations between the outcome of oxidative stress related eye diseases and higher dietary consumption of fruit and vegetables (OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.00; p = 0.004), and significant positive associations between higher dietary consumption of meat and nuts with the outcome of oxidative stress related eye diseases (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05; p= 0.006). Of the micronutrients analysed, we identified significant inverse associations with higher dietary intake of vitamin C (OR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.23, 1.03; p = 0.022), and β- carotene (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.98; p = 0.007), and significant positive associations with higher intake of cholesterol (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.50, 2.46; p = 0.005). We identified an association between the risk of oxidative stress related eye diseases and several food groups and nutrients. Diets rich in fruit and vegetables may be protective against oxidative stress related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, while diets higher in meat and nuts may increase the risk of oxidative stress related eye diseases. In addition, higher intakes of vitamin C and β-carotene from food, with reduction of dietary cholesterol intake may be beneficial towards the outcome of oxidative stress related eye diseases. Dietary advice along these lines may be used to reduce the incidence of oxidative stress related ocular disease in the New Zealand population.