Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we assessed whether there are independent associations between dietary total flavonoid intake and major flavonoid classes with retinal arteriolar and venular calibre.

Methods: Blue Mountains Eye Study participants aged 49+ years who had complete data on diet and retinal vessel measures were analysed (n = 2821). Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Flavonoid content of foods in the FFQ was estimated using the US Department of Agriculture Flavonoid, Isoflavone and Proanthocyanidin databases. Fundus photographs were taken and retinal vascular calibre was measured using validated computer-assisted techniques. The associations of intake of dietary flavonoids with retinal vessel calibre were examined in linear regression models and general linear model.

Results: The highest quartile of intake was compared with the lowest quartile using multivariable-adjustment models. Participants with the highest proanthocyanidin intake had narrower retinal venules (223.9 ± 0.62 versus 226.5 ± 0.63, respectively; Ptrend = 0.01); and the highest isoflavone intake was associated with wider retinal arterioles (188.1 ± 0.55 versus 186.3 ± 0.56, respectively; Ptrend = 0.01). The highest apple/pear consumption (a dietary source of catechin) was associated with narrower retinal venules (223.8 ± 0.57 versus 226.1 ± 0.52; Ptrend = 0.01) and wider retinal arterioles (187.9 ± 0.51 versus 186.2 ± 0.51; Ptrend = 0.02). Further, participants who were in the highest versus lowest quartile of chocolate consumption had ~ 2.1 μm narrower retinal venules (multivariable-adjusted P = 0.03).

Conclusions: This study shows that higher intakes of specific flavonoid subclasses are associated with a favourable retinal microvascular profile. Greater consumption of flavonoid-rich apples/pears and chocolate was also associated with beneficial variations in retinal vascular calibre.

Keywords

Blue Mountains Eye Study, Flavonoids, Retinal vascular calibre

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2020

Publication Title

European Journal of Nutrition

Publisher

Springer

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

30351

Funding Information

The Blue Mountains Eye Study was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (Grant Nos. 974159, 991407, 211069, 262120), and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. The salary of JMH was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Research Fellowship, and a Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation Fellowship. The salary of JRL is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (ID: 1107474).

Funding received from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

1107474, 974159, 991407, 211069, 262120

Administering Institution

Edith Cowan University

Comments

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in the European journal of nutrition. The final authenticated version is Available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

Gopinath, B., Liew, G., Lewis, J. R., Bondonno, N. P., Bondonno, C. P., Burlutsky, G., ... & Mitchell, P. (2020). Associations between dietary flavonoids and retinal microvasculature in older adults. European journal of nutrition, 59, 3093–3101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

First Page

3093

Content Type

Full object

Last Page

3101

Recommended Citation

Gopinath, B., Liew, G., Lewis, J. R., Bondonno, N. P., Bondonno, C. P., Burlutsky, G., ... & Mitchell, P. (2020). Associations between dietary flavonoids and retinal microvasculature in older adults. European Journal of Nutrition, 59, 3093–3101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) ROR ID:

011kf5r70

Edith Cowan University (ECU) ROR ID:

05jhnwe22