Association between dietary niacin and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in healthy eyes of different ages
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume
50
Issue
7
First Page
736
Last Page
744
PubMed ID
35642435
Publisher
Wiley
School
Institute for Nutrition Research / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
44754
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council / Wellcome Trust / Commonwealth of Australia Government (Department of Health) / Government of Western Australia / King's College London / NHS Foundation Trust / National Institute for Health Research / Chronic Disease Research Foundation / European Union / Medical Research Council / Alcon Research Institute / Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia
Grant Number
NHMRC Numbers : 1021105, 1022134
Abstract
Background: To investigate the relationship between dietary intake of niacin (water-soluble form of vitamin B3) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy eyes. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the association between daily niacin intake and RNFL thickness in three large population-based cohorts with varied age differences. RNFL thickness was extracted from optical coherence tomography data; energy-adjusted niacin intake was estimated from food frequency questionnaires. Linear mixed-effects models were utilised to examine the association between RNFL thickness and energy-adjusted niacin intake. Three separate analyses were conducted, with niacin treated as a continuous, a categorical (quartiles) or a dichotomous (above/below Australian recommended daily intake) variable. Results: In total, 4937 subjects were included in the study [Raine Study Gen2, n = 1204, median age 20; Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS), n = 1791, median age 64; TwinsUK, n = 1942, median age 64). When analysed as a continuous variable, there was no association between RNFL thickness and niacin intake in any of the three cohorts (95 % CI β: Raine Study Gen 2, − 0.174 to 0.074; BHAS, − 0.066 to 0.078; TwinsUK − 0.435 to 0.350). Similar findings were observed with quartiles of niacin intake and for niacin intakes above or below Australian recommended daily intake levels in all three cohorts. Conclusions: Dietary intake of niacin from a standard diet does not appear to be associated with age-related RNFL thinning in healthy eyes. Supraphysiological doses of niacin may be required for therapeutic effect in the retina.
DOI
10.1111/ceo.14120
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Comments
Charng, J., Ansari, A. S., Bondonno, N., Hunter, M. L., O'Sullivan, T., Louca, P., ... & Mackey, D. A. (2022). Association between dietary niacin on retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in healthy eyes of different ages. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 50(7), 736-744. https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.14120