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Associations between dietary flavonoids and retinal microvasculature in older adults

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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.

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Abbreviations

BMES:

Blue Mountains Eye Study

CRAE:

Central retinal artery equivalent

CRVE:

Central retinal vein equivalent

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

FFQ:

Food-Frequency Questionnaire

GLM:

General linear model

USDA:

US Department of Agriculture

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Funding

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).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia

    Bamini Gopinath, Gerald Liew, George Burlutsky & Paul Mitchell

  2. Centre for Kidney Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia

    Joshua R. Lewis

  3. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Joshua R. Lewis, Catherine P. Bondonno & Jonathan M. Hodgson

  4. Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    Joshua R. Lewis, Catherine P. Bondonno & Jonathan M. Hodgson

  5. School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    Nicola P. Bondonno

Authors
  1. Bamini Gopinath
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  2. Gerald Liew
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  3. Joshua R. Lewis
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  4. Nicola P. Bondonno
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  5. Catherine P. Bondonno
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  6. George Burlutsky
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  7. Jonathan M. Hodgson
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  8. Paul Mitchell
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Contributions

The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: BG and PM designed the research. PM, BG, JMH, JRL, GL, NPB, CPB, and GB conducted the research. GB analysed data or performed statistical analysis. PM, BG, JMH, JRL, GL, NPB, and CPB wrote the manuscript. BG had primary responsibility for final content and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bamini Gopinath.

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None of the authors declared a conflict of interest.

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Gopinath, B., Liew, G., Lewis, J.R. et al. Associations between dietary flavonoids and retinal microvasculature in older adults. Eur J Nutr 59, 3093–3101 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02148-5

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