Age-related Macular Degeneration and Antioxidant Status in the POLA Study

OBJECTIVE To give the levels of antioxidant nutrients in relation to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age is a population-based study on cataract and AMD and their risk factors, carried out on 2584 inhabitants of Sète, France. Age-related macular degeneration was defined by findings from fundus photographs according to an international classification. Biological measurements were taken from fasting blood samples. RESULTS After multivariate adjustment, plasma α-tocopherol levels showed a weak negative association with late AMD (P=.07). Lipid-standardized plasma α-tocopherol levels showed a significant negative association with late AMD (P=.003): the risk of late AMD was reduced by 82% in the highest quintile compared with the lowest. Similarly, lipid-standardized plasma α-tocopherol levels were inversely associated with early signs of AMD (odds ratio, 0.72 [95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.98]; P=.04). No associations were found with plasma retinol and ascorbic acid levels or with red blood cell glutathione values. COMMENT These results suggest that vitamin E may provide protection against AMD. Only randomized interventional studies could prove the protective effect of vitamin E on AMD.Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1384-1390-->