Tropical Metabolism Research Unit Kingston, Jamaica
Disclosure(s):
Genesis Daniel Edokpa, MSc: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between intake of meat and vegetables and number of antiglaucoma medications used for management of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Methods: Cross-sectional data from an ongoing cohort study of 462 participants is being utilized. 102 participants between 41 to 82 years with POAG, and intraocular pressure controlled with antiglaucoma drugs have been recruited so far. A health and lifestyle questionnaire was used to assess number of glaucoma medications used. Consumption of vegetables and meats was assessed with a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Average Ganglion Cell Complex (aGCC) scans were obtained with iVue spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Individuals were categorized into three groups, representing lower, middle, and upper thirds of daily amount of meat and vegetable intake. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine if there was a significant association between daily amount of vegetable intake and number of antiglaucoma medications used. A one-way ANOVA was performed to compare the average thickness of the aGCC across the three groups.
Results: After excluding participants on steroidal medications, history of retinal detachment surgeries, and missing FFQ data, 84 participants were included. The number of glaucoma medications used by each participant ranged from 1 – 5 drug classes. There was a statistically significant association between daily amount of non-starchy vegetable intake and number of antiglaucoma medications used (p = 0.044). People in the lowest tertile of daily vegetable intake used more glaucoma drugs than those in the medium or highest tertiles. The aGCC thickness for all the participants ranged from 57 µm to 107 µm with a mean of 81.56µm. A one-way ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in aGCC thickness between at least two groups (F (2, 70) = [5.20], p = 0.0079). Bonferroni correction indicated that the mean aGCC in the lowest meat intake group was significantly thinner than the mean aGCC for the highest tertile group (p = 0.006).
Conclusions: A higher daily intake of non-starchy vegetables may be associated with fewer antiglaucoma medications and low meat intake may have direct detrimental effects for people with primary open-angle glaucoma.
Funding Sources: This paper forms part of a student PhD proposal. No funding has yet been obtained.
.jpg "Genesis Edokpa, MSc (he/him/his) photo")