Higher intake of vitamin B1 associated with lower risk of age-related macular degeneration
Vitamin B1, called thiamine, is a water-soluble, colourless, odourless, and slightly bitter vitamin necessary for all living organisms. It is a cofactor for various enzymes involved in metabolic processes, mainly carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Since humans cannot produce their own vitamin B1, it must be obtained through food sources. Deficiency in vitamin B1 has been linked to polyneuritis, Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, beriberi, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, paralysis, and cardiac failure.
A study published in Ophthalmic Research found a negative correlation (inverse association) between vitamin B1 intake and late age-related macular degeneration in the US. According to them, more randomized clinical trials are needed to investigate the relationship.
AMD, a leading cause of permanent blindness globally, is investigated for its correlation with vitamin B1 intake in a US representative sample as part of the current study.
The study analyzed NHANES data from 2005 to 2008, using logistic regression to assess the connection between vitamin B1 intake and late AMD.
Key findings in this study are:
- Five thousand one hundred seven people aged 40 years old and above were included in the study.
- There was an inverse association between Vitamin B1 intake levels and the prevalence of late AMD.
- The OR for the crude model 1, adjusted model 2 and fully adjusted model 3 was 0.40, 0.53 and 0.55, respectively.
We found that people consuming more vitamin B1 had lower odds of being diagnosed with late AMD, they said.
This study has a few limitations. First, as it is a cross-sectional study, a causal relationship cannot be established. Second, limiting the generalizability of the findings. However, the study has some strengths, such as data collection from a diverse and representative sample to ensure generalizability to all American seniors. Additionally, this research provides an extensive investigation into the connection between vitamin B1 consumption levels and late AMD among the US population, contributing to the study’s credibility.
Reference:
Zheng Q, Shen T, Xu M, Tan L, Shen Z, Hong C. Association between dietary consumption of vitamin B1 and advanced age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional observational study in NHANES 2005-2008. Ophthalmic Res. 2023 Nov 3. doi: 10.1159/000534819. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37926095.
