Retinal Microvasculature and Neural Changes and Dietary Patterns in an Older Population in Southern Italy

Rossella Tatoli, Luisa Lampignano, Rossella Donghia, Alfredo Niro, Fabio Castellana, Ilaria Bortone, Roberta Zupo, Sarah Tirelli, Madia Lozupone, Francesco Panza, Giovanni Alessio, Francesco Boscia, Giancarlo Sborgia (), on behalf of the Eye Clinic Research Group and Rodolfo Sardone
Additional contact information
Rossella Tatoli: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Luisa Lampignano: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Rossella Donghia: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Alfredo Niro: Eye Clinic, Hospital “SS. Annunziata”, ASL Taranto, 74100 Taranto, Italy
Fabio Castellana: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Ilaria Bortone: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Roberta Zupo: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Sarah Tirelli: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy
Madia Lozupone: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Francesco Panza: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Alessio: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Francesco Boscia: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Giancarlo Sborgia: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
on behalf of the Eye Clinic Research Group: Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience “DiBraiN”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
Rodolfo Sardone: National Institute of Gastroenterology—IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, 70013 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Background: Like other parts of the body, the retina and its neurovascular system are also affected by age-related changes. The rising age of populations worldwide makes it important to study the pathologies related to age and their potential risk factors, such as diet and eating habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive power of food groups versus retinal features among noninstitutionalized older adults from Southern Italy using a machine learning approach. Methods: We recruited 530 subjects, with a mean age of 74 years, who were drawn from the large population of the Salus in Apulia Study. In the present cross-sectional study, eating habits were assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. For the visual assessment, a complete ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography-angiography analyses were performed. Results: The analyses identified 13 out of the 28 food groups as predictors of all our retinal variables: grains, legumes, olives-vegetable oil, fruiting vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, sweets, fish, dairy, low-fat dairy, red meat, white meat, and processed meat. Conclusions: Eating habits and food consumption may be important risk factors for age-related retinal changes. A diet that provides the optimal intake of specific nutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers, including carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids, could have beneficial effects.

Keywords: retina; older population; nutrition; OCT; diet (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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