20/20--Alcohol and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
20/20--Alcohol and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Little evidence exists regarding associations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and moderate alcohol consumption, patterns of consumption, or different types of alcoholic beverage. The authors examined associations between AMD prevalence and alcohol intake using 20,963 participants from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study aged 40–69 years at baseline (1990–1994). Participants' alcohol consumption was determined from a structured interview at baseline. At follow-up from 2003 to 2007, digital macula photographs of both eyes were taken and evaluated for early and late AMD signs. Drinking more than 20 g of alcohol per day was associated with an approximate 20% increase in the odds of early AMD (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.38; P = 0.004) when compared with those who reported no alcohol intake at baseline, having adjusted for sex, age, smoking, country of birth, education, physical activity, and energy from food. This positive association was apparent for wine, beer, and spirits. The estimates were similar for both sexes. The odds ratio for those drinking more than 20 g of alcohol per day for late AMD was 1.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.85, 2.45; P = 0.17). These results show a modest association between alcohol consumption and increased AMD risk.
The per-capita consumption of alcohol in Australia is high by world standards; 83% of the population reported drinking in a survey from 2004. Alcohol has been hypothesized to have both positive and negative effects on the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most important cause of irreversible visual loss in elderly populations of the developed world. AMD is considered a complex genetic disease whereby environmental factors interact with a genetic predisposition to the disease. Smoking is the most established modifiable risk factor for developing AMD, although other factors such as abdominal obesity and diet have been implicated. Most studies have examined the risks from heavy alcohol consumption. A meta-analysis indicated that long-term heavy alcohol consumption, an average of more than 30 g a day, was associated with an increased risk of early AMD by 47%–67% in Western populations. Additionally, some evidence has suggested that not only the quantity but also the type of alcohol may be important; beer consumption has been reported to increase risk, whereas a lower risk has been associated with wine consumption. There is currently little evidence regarding the associations between moderate alcohol consumption or different alcoholic beverages and AMD and for the influence of patterns of weekly consumption.
In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend consuming no more than 20 g of alcohol per day (equivalent to 2 Australian standard drinks). Using data from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, we have determined the association between alcohol use (quantity, type of alcohol, and pattern of consumption) and the prevalence of AMD. This large Australian cohort has recorded extensive data on lifestyle factors including diet and obesity, as well as detailed information on drinking habits.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Little evidence exists regarding associations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and moderate alcohol consumption, patterns of consumption, or different types of alcoholic beverage. The authors examined associations between AMD prevalence and alcohol intake using 20,963 participants from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study aged 40–69 years at baseline (1990–1994). Participants' alcohol consumption was determined from a structured interview at baseline. At follow-up from 2003 to 2007, digital macula photographs of both eyes were taken and evaluated for early and late AMD signs. Drinking more than 20 g of alcohol per day was associated with an approximate 20% increase in the odds of early AMD (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.38; P = 0.004) when compared with those who reported no alcohol intake at baseline, having adjusted for sex, age, smoking, country of birth, education, physical activity, and energy from food. This positive association was apparent for wine, beer, and spirits. The estimates were similar for both sexes. The odds ratio for those drinking more than 20 g of alcohol per day for late AMD was 1.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.85, 2.45; P = 0.17). These results show a modest association between alcohol consumption and increased AMD risk.
Introduction
The per-capita consumption of alcohol in Australia is high by world standards; 83% of the population reported drinking in a survey from 2004. Alcohol has been hypothesized to have both positive and negative effects on the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most important cause of irreversible visual loss in elderly populations of the developed world. AMD is considered a complex genetic disease whereby environmental factors interact with a genetic predisposition to the disease. Smoking is the most established modifiable risk factor for developing AMD, although other factors such as abdominal obesity and diet have been implicated. Most studies have examined the risks from heavy alcohol consumption. A meta-analysis indicated that long-term heavy alcohol consumption, an average of more than 30 g a day, was associated with an increased risk of early AMD by 47%–67% in Western populations. Additionally, some evidence has suggested that not only the quantity but also the type of alcohol may be important; beer consumption has been reported to increase risk, whereas a lower risk has been associated with wine consumption. There is currently little evidence regarding the associations between moderate alcohol consumption or different alcoholic beverages and AMD and for the influence of patterns of weekly consumption.
In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend consuming no more than 20 g of alcohol per day (equivalent to 2 Australian standard drinks). Using data from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, we have determined the association between alcohol use (quantity, type of alcohol, and pattern of consumption) and the prevalence of AMD. This large Australian cohort has recorded extensive data on lifestyle factors including diet and obesity, as well as detailed information on drinking habits.
