ASSOCIATION OF ZINC AND ANTIOXIDANT NUTRIENTS WITH AGE-RELATED MACULOPATHY

Objective: To quantify relationships between dietary intake of zinc an d antioxidant nutrients and early and late age-related maculopathy (AR M). Design: A retrospective longitudinal cohort design using data pert aining to diets in the past (1978-1980),which were assessed retrospect ively using a food frequency questionnaire. Setting: Beaver Dam, Wis. Patients: A 50% random sample of free-living Beaver Dam Eye Study part icipants, 43 to 86 years of age (N=1968). Main Outcome Measure: The pr esence of early and late ARM determined from fundus photography. Resul ts: People in the highest vs lowest quintiles for intake of zinc from foods had lower risk for early ARM (odds ratio=0.6, 95% confidence int erval, 0.4-1.0, P for trend <.05). This relationship appeared to be st ronger for some types of early ARM (increased retinal pigment) than fo r others. Zinc intake was unrelated to late ARM. However, small number s (n=30) of people with this condition limit the ability to draw concl usions about this later stage. Levels of carotenoids were unrelated to early or late ARM. Odds for early ARM were lower in people in the hig hest vs lowest quintiles for the intake of vitamins C or E. However, t hese associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The data are weakly supportive of a protective effect of zinc on the deve lopment of some forms of early ARM. Prospective studies are needed to further evaluate the potential influence of these and other nutritiona l factors on different types and stages of age-related macular degener ation.