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Food groups and risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review with meta-analysis

European Journal of Nutrition volume 58, pages 2123–2143 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To systematically review all the available evidence from prospective cohort studies that investigated the association between consumption of food groups and the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

We conducted an electronic literature search through MedLine, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and bibliographies of retrieved articles up to January, 2018. Studies were included if they analysed prospectively the association between consumption of food groups and AMD.

Results

At the end of the selection process, 26 articles were included in the meta-analysis, for a total of 211,676 subjects and 7154 cases of AMD. By comparing the highest vs. the lowest consumption, pooled analyses showed no significant association with AMD for vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, dairy products, as well as dietary fats such as oils, butter and margarine. Fish determined a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of risk for total AMD (RR 0.82 95% CI 0.75–0.90), as well as for both early (RR 0.84 95% CI 0.73–0.97), and late (RR 0.79 95% CI 0.70–0.90) AMD. On the other hand, high meat consumption was associated with a significant increased risk of early (RR 1.17 95% CI 1.02–1.34), but not late AMD. Finally, a significant increased risk of AMD for the highest consumption of alcohol (RR 1.20 95% CI 1.04–1.39) was reported.

Conclusions

The results of the present meta-analysis show a significant 18% reduced risk for fish and a 20% increased risk for alcohol consumption. In addition, an increased risk was observed for meat, but only in the subgroup of early AMD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Monica Dinu, Giuditta Pagliai, Alessandro Casini & Francesco Sofi

  2. Clinical Nutrition Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

    Monica Dinu, Giuditta Pagliai, Alessandro Casini & Francesco Sofi

  3. Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation Italy, Onlus IRCCS, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Sofi

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  1. Monica Dinu
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  2. Giuditta Pagliai
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Contributions

Conception and design: MD, FS. Analysis and interpretation of the data: MD, GP, FS. Drafting of the article: MD, FS. Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: GP, AC, FS. Final approval of the article: AC, FS. Statistical expertise: MD.

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Correspondence to Monica Dinu.

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Dinu, M., Pagliai, G., Casini, A. et al. Food groups and risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr 58, 2123–2143 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1771-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1771-5

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