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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
[Seasonal fluctuations and influence of nutrition on macular pigment density]
C Jahn1, C Brinkmann, A Mössner
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät der Universität, Dresden.
Purpose:
We have previously reported on measuring macular pigment density (MPD) with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). This study war undertaken to evaluate the variation of MPD over a period of 1 year in healthy subjects.
Method:
We used autofluorescence images recorded with a HRA to evaluate MPD with a 2 degrees circle centered on the fovea. Healthy subjects were included in the study and MPD measurements were repeated every 2 months over a period of 1 year.
Results:
We included a total of 30 healthy subjects aged 19-34 years (mean: 23+/-2 years). Mean MPD at time point 1 was 0.215+/-0.056 density units (DU), at time point 2 0.235+/-0.051 DU, at time point 3 0.218+/-0.055 DU, at time point 4 0.228+/-0.057 DU, at time point 5 0.225+/-0.053 DU, and at time point 6 0.203+/-0.050 DU. The statistical analysis revealed no significant variation of MPD over the follow-up period of 1 year.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that MPD shows no variation over a period of 1 year in healthy subjects.
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