Prospective study of flavonoid intake and risk of primary open‐angle glaucoma. Issue 6 (14th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Jae H.; Ivey, Kerry L.; Boumenna, Tahani; Rosner, Bernard; Wiggs, Janey L.; Pasquale, Louis R.
• Is Part Of: Acta ophthalmologica. Volume 96:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: e692
• Page End: e700
• Publication Date: 2018-03-14
• Subjects: cohort -- epidemiology -- flavonoids -- glaucoma; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.13705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-375X

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the association between flavonoid intake and incident primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: We followed 65 516 women from the Nurses' Health Study (from 1984) and 42 156 men from the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study (from 1986) biennially to 2012, who were 40+ years old, free of POAG, and reported eye examinations. Dietary flavonoid intake was assessed with validated repeated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Incident POAG cases ( n = 1575) were confirmed with medical record review. Cohort‐specific multivariable‐adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and meta‐analysed. Results: Total flavonoid intake was not associated with risk of POAG development [RR for highest (Q5: median ~645 mg/day) versus lowest quintile (Q1: ~130 mg/day) = 0.91 (95% CI = 0.77, 1.08); p for trend (p‐trend) = 0.19]; the flavonoid subclasses of flavones, flavanones, polymeric flavanols or anthocyanidins were also not associated (Q5 versus Q1 comparison p‐values ≥0.05 and p‐trend ≥0.09). Higher intakes of flavonols and monomeric flavanols were nominally associated with lower POAG risk, based on the Q5 versus Q1 comparisons or p‐trends. The Q5 versus Q1 comparison RRs were: for flavonols, 0.82 (95% CI = 0.69, 0.97; p‐trend = 0.05; ~28 versus ~8 mg/day), and for monomeric flavanols, 0.86 (95% CI = 0.72, 1.02; p‐trend=0.04; ~110 versus 10 mg/day). The food/beverage that contributed most to both the variation of flavonols and monomeric flavanols was tea; consuming ~2 cups/day was associated with 18% lower POAG risk (RR=0.82; 95% CI = 0.68, 0.99; p‐trend = 0.02). Conclusion: Total flavonoid intake was not associated with POAG risk. Greater intakes of flavonols and monomeric flavanols and of tea showed suggestive modest associations with lower risk; these results need confirmation.