Dietary nitrate intake useful option for reducing risk of incident open-angle glaucoma

Previous studies suggest that nitric oxide is involved in the regulation of the intraocular pressure (IOP) and in the pathophysiology of open-angle glaucoma (OAG). However, prospective studies investigating the association between dietary nitrate intake, a source of nitric oxide, and incident (i)OAG risk are limited.

Researchers aimed to determine the association between dietary nitrate intake and incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) and to evaluate the association between dietary nitrate intake and IOP. From 1991 onwards, participants were followed every five years for incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) in the Rotterdam Study.

Results:

• A total of 173 participants developed incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) during follow-up. Cases and controls were matched on age and sex (%female: 53.2) in a case: control ratio of 1:5.
• After adjustment for potential confounders, total dietary nitrate intake was associated with a lower incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) risk for each
• Both nitrate intake from vegetables and nitrate intake from non-vegetable food sources was associated with a lower incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG) risk.
• Dietary nitrate intake was not associated with IOP. In conclusion, dietary nitrate intake was associated with a reduced risk of incident open-angle glaucoma (iOAG).

Thus, intraocular pressure-independent mechanisms may underlie the association with open-angle glaucoma.

Reference:

Dietary Nitrate Intake Is Associated with Decreased Incidence of Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Rotterdam Study by Joëlle E. Vergroesen et al. published in the Nutrients.

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122490

Keywords:

Dietary, Nitrate, Intake, Associated, Decreased, Incidence, Open, Angle, Glaucoma, Rotterdam, Study, Joëlle E. Vergroesen, Tosca O. E. de Crom, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Caroline C. W. Klaver, Trudy Voortman, Wishal D. Ramdas, nutrients, open-angle glaucoma; intraocular pressure; dietary nitrate; green-leafy vegetables