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The Relationship Between Caffeine Intake and Dry Eye Disease
Morten Schjerven Magno1,2,3, Tor P Utheim1,4, Mathias Kaurstad Morthen1,3
1Departments of Medical Biochemistry ; and.
Cornea
|January 26, 2022
Summary
Higher dietary caffeine intake was associated with a reduced risk of dry eye disease (DED). However, decaffeinated coffee intake showed an increased risk, suggesting caffeine itself may not be a risk factor for DED.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nutrition Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent condition affecting millions globally.
- Understanding dietary factors, such as caffeine consumption, is crucial for DED prevention and management.
- The association between caffeine and DED remains incompletely understood in large population studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dietary caffeine intake and the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED).
- To assess the impact of various caffeinated beverages on DED risk within a large cohort.
- To determine if caffeine consumption is a significant risk factor for developing DED.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 85,302 participants from the LifeLines cohort in the Netherlands.
- Dry eye disease (DED) assessed using the Women's Health Study dry eye questionnaire.
- Dietary caffeine intake quantified from coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks; logistic regression analysis performed.
Main Results:
- Higher caffeine intake showed a trend towards decreased DED risk after adjusting for demographics and lifestyle factors (OR 0.971).
- This association lost statistical significance when medical comorbidities were included (OR 0.985, P = 0.06).
- Decaffeinated coffee intake was linked to an increased DED risk (OR 1.046), independent of caffeinated beverage consumption.
Conclusions:
- Dietary caffeine intake does not appear to be a significant risk factor for dry eye disease (DED) in the general population.
- Decaffeinated coffee consumption may be associated with an increased risk of DED.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex relationship between beverage consumption and DED.
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