Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of macular pigment and melanin on incident early AMD in a white population

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The protective effect of macular pigment (MP) and melanin against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is still controversial from cross-sectional studies. In an attempt to clarify this issue, we performed a population-based longitudinal study.

Methods

MP optical density (MPOD) and melanin optical density (MOD) data were collected during the second follow-up phase of the Rotterdam Study in 1999 in a random subset of 435 participants. Data from 419 participants (98% white) was available for analysis. AMD diagnosis was based on standardized fundus photographs according to the International Classification System, and AMD cases were subdivided into five mutually exclusive stages. In the three follow-up phases, incident AMD (iAMD), defined as absence of any AMD at baseline and the presence of stage 2 or higher at follow-up, was determined. We used Cox regression analysis to study the effect of an assumedly stable MPOD and MOD on early iAMD.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 9.82 years, 13 male and 17 female participants developed early iAMD and two male participants late iAMD. Because only two participants developed late iAMD, we had to restrict our analyses to early iAMD. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age and gender showed no significant effect of MPOD [hazard ratio (HR) 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04, 3.57] and MOD (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.09, 3.60) on early iAMD. Additional adjustment for smoking did not change these associations.

Conclusions

This unique but quantitatively limited material leads to the conclusion that no major protective effect of MPOD or MOD was seen on early iAMD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ambati J, Ambati BK, Yoo SH, Ianchulev S, Adamis AP (2003) Age-related macular degeneration: etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies. Surv Ophthalmol 48:257–293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Beatty S, Koh H, Phil M, Henson D, Boulton M (2000) The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol 45:115–134

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Beatty S, Murray IJ, Henson DB, Carden D, Koh H, Boulton ME (2001) Macular pigment and risk for age-related macular degeneration in subjects from a Northern European population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42:439–446

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Berendschot TTJM, van Norren D (2005) On the age dependency of the macular pigment optical density. Exp Eye Res 81:602–609

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Berendschot TTJM, Goldbohm RA, Klöpping WA, van de Kraats J, van Norel J, van Norren D (2000) Influence of lutein supplementation on macular pigment, assessed with two objective techniques. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:3322–3326

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Berendschot TTJM, Willemse-Assink JJM, Bastiaanse M, de Jong PTVM, van Norren D (2002) Macular pigment and melanin in age-related maculopathy in a general population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:1928–1932

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bird AC, Bressler NM, Bressler SB, Chisholm IH, Coscas G, Davis MD, de Jong PTVM, Klaver CC, Klein BE, Klein R (1995) An international classification and grading system for age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The International ARM Epidemiological Study Group. Surv Ophthalmol 39:367–374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bito LZ, Matheny A, Cruickshanks KJ, Nondahl DM, Carino OB (1997) Eye color changes past early childhood-The Louisville Twin Study. Arch Ophthalmol 115:659–663

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bone RA, Landrum JT, Cains A (1992) Optical density spectra of the macular pigment in vivo and in vitro. Vision Res 32:105–110

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bone RA, Landrum JT, Dixon Z, Chen Y, Llerena CM (2000) Lutein and zeaxanthin in the eyes, serum and diet of human subjects. Exp Eye Res 71:239–245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bone RA, Landrum JT, Tarsis SL (1985) Preliminary identification of the human macular pigment. Vision Res 25:1531–1535

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Cho EY, Seddon JM, Rosner B, Willett WC, Hankinson SE (2004) Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 122:883–892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Christen WG, Glynn RJ, Manson JE, Ajani UA, Buring JE (1996) A prospective study of cigarette smoking and risk of age-related macular degeneration in men. JAMA 276:1147–1151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Delcourt C, Carriere I, Delage M, Barberger-Gateau P, Schalch W (2006) Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin and other carotenoids as modifiable risk factors for age-related maculopathy and cataract: The POLA Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:2329–2335

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Delori FC, Burns SA (1996) Fundus reflectance and the measurement of crystalline lens density. J Opt Soc Am A 13:215–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Delori FC, Gragoudas ES, Francisco R, Pruett RC (1977) Monochromatic ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography. The normal fundus. Arch Ophthalmol 95:861–868

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. DeMarco P, Pokorny J, Smith VC (1992) Full-spectrum cone sensitivity functions for X-chromosome-linked anomalous trichromats. J Opt Soc Am A 9:1465–1476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Evans JR (2001) Risk factors for age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 20:227–253

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Friedman DS, O’Colmain B, Tomany SC, McCarty C, de Jong PTVM, Nemesure B, Mitchell P, Kempen J, Congdon N (2004) Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 122:564–572

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gale CR, Hall NF, Phillips DI, Martyn CN (2003) Lutein and zeaxanthin status and risk of age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:2461–2465

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hammond BR Jr, Wooten BR, Snodderly DM (1996) Cigarette smoking and retinal carotenoids: implications for age-related macular degeneration. Vision Res 36:3003–3009

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hammond BR Jr, Wooten BR, Snodderly DM (1997) Individual variations in the spatial profile of human macular pigment. J Opt Soc Am A 14:1187–1196

    Google Scholar 

  23. Handelman GJ, Dratz EA, Reay CC, van Kuijk JG (1988) Carotenoids in the human macula and whole retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29:850-855

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hofman A, Grobbee DE, Dejong PTVM, Vandenouweland FA (1991) Determinants of disease and disability in the elderly-the Rotterdam Elderly Study. Eur J Epidemiol 7:403–422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hyman LG, Lilienfeld AM, Ferris FL III, Fine SL (1983) Senile macular degeneration: a case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 118:213–227

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Jahn C, Wustemeyer H, Brinkmann C, Trautmann S, Mossner A, Wolf S (2005) Macular pigment density in age-related maculopathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243:222–227

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Khachik F, Bernstein PS, Garland DL (1997) Identification of lutein and zeaxanthin oxidation products in human and monkey retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 38:1802–1811

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Klaver CC, Assink JJ, Wolfs RC, Vingerling JR, Stijnen T, Hofman A, de Jong PTVM (2001) Incidence and progression rates of age-related maculopathy. The Rotterdam Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42:2237–2241

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Klaver CC, Wolfs RC, Vingerling JR, Hofman A, de Jong PTVM (1998) Age-specific prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in an older population: the Rotterdam Study. Arch Ophthalmol 116:653–658

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Klein R, Klein BE, Cruickshanks KJ (1999) The prevalence of age-related maculopathy by geographic region and ethnicity. Prog Retin Eye Res 18:371–389

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Klein R, Klein BE, Jensen SC, Meuer SM (1997) The five-year incidence and progression of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology 104:7–21

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Klein R, Klein BE, Linton KL, DeMets DL (1993) The Beaver Dam Eye Study: the relation of age-related maculopathy to smoking. Am J Epidemiol 137:190–200

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Landrum JT, Bone RA, Kilburn MD (1997) The macular pigment: a possible role in protection from age-related macular degeneration. Adv Pharmacol 38:537–556

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Mares-Perlman JA, Brady WE, Klein R, Klein BE, Bowen P, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Palta M (1995) Serum antioxidants and age-related macular degeneration in a population- based case-control study. Arch Ophthalmol 113:1518–1523

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. McCarty CA, Mukesh BN, Fu CL, Mitchell P, Wang JJ, Taylor HR (2001) Risk factors for age-related maculopathy-The Visual Impairment Project. Arch Ophthalmol 119:1455–1462

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Mitchell P, Wang JJ, Smith W, Leeder SR (2002) Smoking and the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy-The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol 120:1357–1363

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Neelam K, O’Gorman N, Nolan J, O’donovan O, Wong HB, Eong KGA, Beatty S (2005) Measurement of macular pigment: Raman spectroscopy versus heterochromatic flicker photometry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:1023–1032

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Sarna T (1992) Properties and function of the ocular melanin-a photobiophysical view. J Photochem Photobiol B 12:215–258

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD, Hiller R, Blair N, Burton TC, Farber MD, Gragoudas ES, Haller J, Miller DT (1994) Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. J Am Med Assoc 272:1413–1420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Seddon JM, Willett WC, Speizer FE, Hankinson SE (1996) A prospective study of cigarette smoking and age-related macular degeneration in women. J Am Med Assoc 276:1141–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sharpe LT, Stockman A, Knau H, Jägle H (1998) Macular pigment densities derived from central and peripheral spectral sensitivity differences. Vision Res 38:3233–3239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Smith W, Assink J, Klein R, Mitchell P, Klaver CC, Klein BE, Hofman A, Jensen S, Wang JJ, de Jong PTVM (2001) Risk factors for age-related macular degeneration: pooled findings from three continents. Ophthalmology 108:697–704

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Smith W, Mitchell P, Leeder SR (1996) Smoking and age-related maculopathy. The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol 114:1518–1523

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Snodderly DM, Auran JD, Delori FC (1984) The macular pigment. II. Spatial distribution in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:674–685

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Snodderly DM, Brown PK, Delori FC, Auran JD (1984) The macular pigment. I. Absorbance spectra, localization, and discrimination from other yellow pigments in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:660–673

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Tamakoshi A, Yuzawa M, Matsui M, Uyama M, Fujiwara NK, Ohno Y (1997) Smoking and neovascular form of age related macular degeneration in late middle aged males: findings from a case-control study in Japan. Br J Ophthalmol 81:901–904

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. van de Kraats J, Berendschot TTJM, van Norren D (1996) The pathways of light measured in fundus reflectometry. Vision Res 36:2229–2247

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Van Leeuwen R, Boekhoorn S, Vingerling JR, Witteman JC, Klaver CC, Hofman A, de Jong PT (2005) Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of age-related macular degeneration. J Am Med Assoc 294:3101–3107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Van Leeuwen R, Chakravarthy U, Vingerling JR, Brussee C, Hooghart AJ, Mulder PG, de Jong PTVM (2003) Grading of age-related maculopathy for epidemiological studies-Is digital imaging as good as 35-mm film? Ophthalmology 110:1540–1544

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Van Leeuwen R, Klaver CCW, Vingerling JR, Hofman A, de Jong PTVM (2003) The risk and natural course of age-related maculopathy-Follow-up at 61/2 years in the Rotterdam study. Arch Ophthalmol 121:519–526

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. van Norren D, van de Kraats J (1989) Retinal densitometer with the size of a fundus camera. Vision Res 29:369–374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Vinding T, Appleyard M, Nyboe J, Jensen G (1992) Risk factor-analysis for atrophic and exudative age-related macular degeneration-an Epidemiologic-Study of 1000 aged individuals. Acta Ophthalmol 70:66–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Vingerling JR, Hofman A, Grobbee DE, de Jong PTVM (1996) Age-related macular degeneration and smoking. The Rotterdam Study. Arch Ophthalmol 114:1193–1196

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Weiter JJ, Delori FC, Wing GL, Fitch KA (1985) Relationship of senile macular degeneration to ocular pigmentation. Am J Ophthalmol 99:185–187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Weiter JJ, Delori FC, Wing GL, Fitch KA (1986) Retinal pigment epithelial lipofuscin and melanin and choroidal melanin in human eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 27:145–152

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Dr. F.P. Fischer Foundation, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The authors wish to thank Sharmila Boekhoorn for her useful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, AZU E03.136, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Martijn J. Kanis & Dirk van Norren

  2. University Eye Clinic Maastricht, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Tos T. J. M. Berendschot

Authors
  1. Martijn J. Kanis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tos T. J. M. Berendschot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dirk van Norren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martijn J. Kanis.

Additional information

The authors have no financial interest in this study. The authors have full control of all primary data, and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kanis, M.J., Berendschot, T.T.J.M. & van Norren, D. Influence of macular pigment and melanin on incident early AMD in a white population. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 245, 767–773 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0478-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0478-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation