Olive Oil Consumption and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Alienor Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Olive oil provides a mixture of lipids and antioxidant nutrients which may help preventing age-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, little is known about the associations between olive oil consumption and the risk of AMD.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To examine associations between olive oil use and AMD prevalence in elderly subjects.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Alienor (Antioxydants, Lipides Essentiels, Nutrition et maladies OculaiRes) is a population-based study on eye diseases performed in elderly residents of Bordeaux (France). In 1999–2000, frequencies of consumption of main categories of dietary fats used were collected. In 2006–2088, AMD was graded from non mydriatic retinal photographs into three exclusive stages: no AMD, early AMD, and late AMD. Two categories of preferred dietary fat used (olive oil, n-3 rich oils, n-6 rich oils, mixed oils, butter and margarine) were defined: “no use” and “regular use” (using fat for spreading and/or cooking and/or dressing). Associations of AMD with each fat use were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equation logistic regressions models.</p><p>Results</p><p>Our study included 654 subjects (1269 eyes) with complete data (n = 268 eyes with early AMD and n = 56 with late AMD). After adjustment for potential confounders, regular use of olive oil was significantly associated with a decreased risk of late AMD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21;0.91). In contrast, regular use of olive oil was not significantly associated with early AMD (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.59;1.21). No associations were found between regular consumption of n-3 rich oils, n-6 rich oils, mixed oils, butter and margarine and AMD, whatever the stage.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study suggests a protective effect of olive oil consumption for late AMD in this elderly community-dwelling population. Characterization of the mediating nutrients deserves further research.</p></div

Baseline health indicators, plasma lipids and fatty acids measurements of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001) according to olive oil use¹.

<p>Baseline health indicators, plasma lipids and fatty acids measurements of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001) according to olive oil use<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160240#t002fn002" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Elevated High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Alienor Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Lipid metabolism and particularly high-density lipoprotein (HDL) may be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, conflicting results have been reported in the associations of AMD with plasma HDL and other lipids, which may be confounded by the recently reported associations of AMD with HDL-related genes. We explored the association of AMD with plasma lipid levels and lipid-lowering medication use, taking into account most of HDL-related genes associated with AMD.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The Alienor study is a population-based study on age-related eye diseases performed in 963 elderly residents of Bordeaux (France). AMD was graded from non mydriatic color retinal photographs in three exclusive stages: no AMD (n = 430 subjects, 938 eyes); large soft distinct drusen and/or large soft indistinct drusen and/or reticular drusen and/or pigmentary abnormalities (early AMD, n = 176, 247); late AMD (n = 40, 61). Associations of AMD with plasma lipids (HDL, total cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG)) were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equation logistic regressions. Statistical analyses included 646 subjects with complete data.</p><p>Results</p><p>After multivariate adjustment for age, sex, educational level, smoking, BMI, lipid-lowering medication use, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and for all relevant genetic polymorphisms (ApoE2, ApoE4, CFH Y402H, ARMS2 A69S, LIPC rs10468017, LIPC rs493258<b>,</b> LPL rs12678919, ABCA1 rs1883025 and CETP rs3764261), higher HDL was significantly associated with an increased risk of early (OR = 2.45, 95%CI: 1.54–3.90; P = 0.0002) and any AMD (OR = 2.29, 95%CI: 1.46–3.59; P = 0.0003). Association with late AMD was far from statistical significance (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 0.48–5.17; p = 0.45). No associations were found for any stage of AMD with TC, LDL and TG levels, statin or fibrate drug use.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study suggests that elderly patients with high HDL concentration may be at increased risk for AMD and, further, that HDL dysfunction might be implicated in AMD pathogenesis.</p></div

Baseline sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001), according to olive oil use¹.

<p>Baseline sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001), according to olive oil use<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160240#t001fn002" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Plasma lipid levels according to genetic characteristics in subjects of the Alienor study (N = 825).

<p>Abbreviations: TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides;</p><p>*ANOVA or Student t-tests were performed for means comparison;</p>†<p>Statistically significant p-value <0.0055 (Bonferroni corrected, P = 0.05/9 = 0.0055).</p

Baseline genetic characteristics of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001) according to olive oil use¹.

<p>Baseline genetic characteristics of the 654 participants of the Alienor study (1999–2001) according to olive oil use<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160240#t004fn002" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Statin and fibrate drug use according to genetic characteristics in subjects of the Alienor study (N = 825).

<p>* Use of statin at one examination or more;</p>†<p>Use of fibrate at one examination or more;</p>‡<p>χ² tests were performed for frequency comparison;</p>§<p>Statistically significant p-value <0.0055 (Bonferroni corrected, P = 0.05/9 = 0.0055).</p

Design of the Alienor study.

<p>Abbreviations: AMD: age-related macular degeneration.</p

Associations of AMD with plasma lipids levels in the Alienor study (odds-ratios (OR) and [95% confidence interval (CI)] for 1 mmol/L increase).

<p>Abbreviations: AMD: age-related macular degeneration; TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides;</p><p>*adjusted for age and gender;</p>†<p>adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking, BMI, hypertension, hypolipidemic drug, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes;</p>‡<p>adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking, BMI, hypertension, hypolipidemic drug, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, ApoE2, ApoE4, CFH Y402H, ARMS2 A69S, LIPC(rs10468017), LIPC(rs493258) LPL, ABCA1 and CETP polymorphisms;</p>§<p>Statistically significant p-value <0.0125 (Bonferroni corrected, P = 0.05/4 = 0.0125).</p

Associations of AMD with statin and fibrate drug use in the Alienor study (odds-ratios (OR) and [95% confidence interval (CI)] for 1 mmol/L increase).

<p>Abbreviations: AMD: age-related macular degeneration;</p><p>*adjusted for age and gender;</p>†<p>adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking, BMI, hypertension, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes;</p>‡<p>adjusted for age, gender, educational level, smoking, BMI, hypertension, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, ApoE2, ApoE4, CFH Y402H, ARMS2 A69S, LIPC(rs10468017<b>)</b>, LIPC(rs493258<b>)</b> LPL, ABCA1 and CETP polymorphisms;</p>∥<p>Use of statin at one examination or more;</p>#<p>Statistically significant p-value <0.025 (Bonferroni corrected, P = 0.05/2 = 0.025);</p>β<p>Use of fibrate at one examination or more.</p