Title: Association of blood levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and serum cholesterol with age related macular degeneration in the elderly population of India.
Aim: To determine any association of Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) with blood levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and serum cholesterol.
Methods: The levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and serum cholesterol in patients who were diagnosed with Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) in either eye (n=109) were compared to a control group with no retinal pathology (n=134). Diabetic patients were excluded from the study.
Results: Raised serum cholesterol levels were more common in ARMD cases (47.5%) compared to controls (28.4%). This association was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). Levels of serum homocysteine were higher in the ARMD group than in the control group whereas serum vitamin B12 levels were lower in the ARMD group than in the control group but was not statistically significant (p=0.68 and p=0.51).Serum homocysteine level was significantly higher in males compared to females in both case and controls (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Raised serum cholesterol levels were significantly associated with increased risk of age related macular degeneration.
Our study did not find elevated serum homocysteine or low serum vitamin B12 as significantly associated with age related macular degeneration.