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Dietary Patterns and Retinal Vessel Caliber in the Irish Nun Eye Study

C E Neville1, S Montgomery, G Silvestri

  • 1Charlotte E. Neville, Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom, c.neville@qub.ac.uk .

The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|August 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

An unhealthy diet pattern in older women is linked to wider retinal venules and narrower arterioles, indicating increased cardiovascular disease risk. This highlights the importance of diet for eye health and overall well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology and Cardiovascular Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Retinal Microvascular Imaging

Background:

  • Retinal microvascular abnormalities, including venular widening and arteriolar narrowing, are established indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Dietary patterns significantly influence cardiovascular health, yet their association with retinal microvascular status remains underexplored.
  • Previous research indicates that specific retinal vessel changes predict conditions like stroke, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns (DPs) and retinal vascular caliber (RVC) in a cohort of older women.
  • To determine if specific dietary habits are associated with measurable changes in retinal venules and arterioles.
  • To assess the impact of a 'healthy' versus an 'unhealthy' dietary pattern on retinal microvascular health.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1233 older women (mean age 76.3 years) from the Irish Nun Eye Study (INES).
  • Retinal vascular caliber (RVC) was quantified using computer-assisted software on digital eye images.
  • Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis from food frequency questionnaire data, with regression models adjusting for key health and demographic factors.

Main Results:

  • Two distinct dietary patterns were identified: a 'healthy' pattern (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oily fish) and an 'unhealthy' pattern (high in sugar, sweets, chips, high-fat dairy, French fries).
  • Adherence to the 'unhealthy' dietary pattern was significantly associated with wider central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and narrower central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE).
  • No significant association was found between the 'healthy' dietary pattern and retinal vascular caliber.

Conclusions:

  • In older women with a restricted lifestyle, an unhealthy dietary pattern is independently linked to adverse retinal microvascular changes.
  • Specifically, a diet high in processed and unhealthy foods correlates with venular widening and arteriolar narrowing.
  • These findings underscore the critical role of dietary choices in maintaining retinal vascular health and potentially mitigating cardiovascular disease risk.
Abstract

Keywords:
Dietary patternscross-sectionalretinal vessel caliber

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