Spatial Distribution of Macular Pigment in an Elderly French Population: The Montrachet Study

We describe the spatial distribution and cross-sectional associations with physical and lifestyle attributes.

The participants of the Montrachet (Maculopathy Optic Nerve, nuTRition neurovAsCular and HEarT) study underwent an exhaustive ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography, to measure retinal thickness. The spatial distribution of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) defined as a ring-like, intermediate or no-ring pattern, was assessed by means of the two-wavelength autofluorescence technique. Blood samples were taken to measure plasma lutein and zeaxanthin using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

We studied 635 subjects with good-quality MPOD measurements. The mean age was 82.0 ± 3.4 years. A ring-like structure was found in 109 (17.2%) participants. Participants with a ring-like spatial distribution had a thinner macula in the central subfield (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, individuals never protecting themselves from sunlight and with dark iris color were less likely to present a ring-like than a no-ring spatial distribution (P = 0.033 and P = 0.013, respectively). Only in males were lutein plasma levels higher in ring-like and intermediate MPOD profiles than in no-ring structures (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59 for 100 additional μg; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-2.18 and OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.17-2.28).

In this population-based study, individuals never protecting themselves from sunlight, and with dark iris color and a thinner macula were less prone to displaying a ring-like MPOD spatial distribution.