Carbohydrate, Dietary Patterns, and AMD Risk in 2 Cohorts

This project uses data from a number of large studies to test whether limiting carbohydrates reduces the risk of developing AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is caused by damage to the most sensitive portion of the retina, the macula. It is in this zone that light information is received and converted to signals that are then interpreted by the brain. Estimates vary for the prevalence of AMD, but it appears that over 15% of the elderly are subject to some visual loss due to AMD. With the aging of our population, along with increasing diabetes and obesity, this proportion is sure to grow significantly. It is the major cause of nonremediable blindness. Such an epidemic’s personal, societal, and public health ramifications are horrific. We obtained preliminary evidence that limiting dietary simple carbohydrates is associated with prolonged retina function and less indication of macular damage. Since, at present, there are no intervention trials that specifically test the hypothesis that limiting simple carbohydrates is associated with prolonged retina function, we seek to use data from existing large, well-executed ophthalmic/nutritional/epidemiologic studies to test the hypothesis. Had we set out to do this work from the beginning, it would have cost millions of dollars. By using existing data sets, we can accomplish this mission at a fraction of the cost. This grant will help us accomplish this objective.