Low folate status and indoor pollution are risk factors for endemic optic neuropathy in Tanzania.
| Autor: | Hodson KE; Department of Nutrition & Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK., Bowman RJ, Mafwiri M, Wood M, Mhoro V, Cox SE |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | The British journal of ophthalmology [Br J Ophthalmol] 2011 Oct; Vol. 95 (10), pp. 1361-4. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Jul 06. |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bjo.2010.197608 |
| Abstrakt: | Aims: Bilateral optic neuropathy in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania was first reported as an epidemic in 1988. Now argued to be endemic in 2010, the aetiology remains unclear. The authors investigated the hypothesis that low folate and vitamin B₁₂ status are associated with optic neuropathy, and also sought to investigate whether mercury, commonly used drugs, dietary factors and indoor pollution may also be risk factors. Methods: 57 cases and 102 controls were recruited from two tertiary referral centres in Dar-es-Salaam. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, diet, medication history and HIV status. Folate and vitamin B₁₂ (holo-transcobalamin) were measured in stored serum samples. Exposure to mercury was assessed from concentrations in random urine samples. Results: Cooking indoors more than twice per week (OR 54.48 (95% CI 9.30 to 319.10)) and indoor use of charcoal or firewood (OR 21.20 (95% CI 2.51 to 179.36)) increased the risk of optic neuropathy. Risk was reduced in those with a higher folate status (highest versus lowest quartile OR=0.11 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.51)) and higher protein intakes (OR=0.84 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.96). No association was found with mercury exposure or any common drug or food commodity. Conclusion: This study presents the first direct evidence of low folate status and indoor pollution in the aetiology of endemic bilateral optic neuropathy in Tanzania. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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