Review Article

Risk Factors for Age-Related Maculopathy

Table 12

Studies investigating the relationship between dietary and serum levels of carotenoids and risk for ARM.

StudyNo. of casesMeasure of risk factorType of ARMOdds ratio or relative risk95% confidence interval

Cross-Sectional Studies

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III [245]8222Dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthinPigmentary abnormalities0.1 (Younger age groups)0.1–0.3
Serum level of lutein and zeaxanthinEarly ARM1.00.6–1.5

Prospective Studies

Beaver Dam Eye Study [237]1709Dietary intake of pro-vitamin A carotenoidsLarge drusen0.530.3–1.0
0.450.2–1.0

Blue Mountains Eye Study [226, 242]2900Dietary intake of caroteneEarly ARM0.70.4–1.1
Late ARM0.70.3–2.0

Blue Mountains Eye Study [226, 242]1989Dietary intake of 𝛼 - and 𝛽 -caroteneEarly ARM1.3 ( 𝛼 -carotene)0.8–2.2
1.2 ( 𝛽 -carotene)0.7–2.1

Rotterdam Study [235]4170Dietary intake of 𝛽 -carotene in combination with vitamin C, vitamin E and zincEarly and late ARM0.650.46–0.92

Pathologies Oculaires Liees a L’Age [246]899Plasma Levels of zeaxanthinEarly and Late ARM0.070.01–0.58
Combined plasma level of lutein and zeaxanthinEarly and late ARM0.210.05–0.79