Open AccessNo evidence for an association of plasma homocysteine levels and refractive error – Results from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)
Author(s) -
Stefan Nickels,
Henk J. Blom,
Andreas Schulz,
Lutz Joachimsen,
Thomas Münzel,
Philipp S. Wild,
Manfred E. Beutel,
Maria Blettner,
Karl J. Lackner,
Norbert Pfeiffer,
Wolf A. Lagrèze
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0231011
Subject(s) - association (psychology) , homocysteine , plasma homocysteine , refractive error , medicine , population , statistics , demography , environmental health , psychology , mathematics , ophthalmology , sociology , psychotherapist , eye disease
Purpose There is a strong association between severe hyperhomocysteinemia and myopia. Thus we studied the hypothesis that even moderately increased levels of homocysteine (Hcy) might be a potentially treatable risk factor for myopia. Methods The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany, including 15,010 participants aged between 35 and 74 at recruitment. The baseline examination was conducted from 2007–2012. Refraction was measured using autorefraction (HARK 599, Carl Zeiss AG, Jena, Germany). Hcy was measured by an immunoassay. We included only phakic participants without a history of corneal surgery or corneal laser treatment. We used linear regression models to evaluate the potential association between Hcy and refraction at baseline, and between Hcy and change in refraction between baseline and 5-year-follow-up examination. We used generalized estimating equation models to account for the correlation between fellow eyes. Results We included 13,749 participants, categorized as having no myopia (spherical equivalent > -0.75 D, 65.2%), low myopia (-0.75 D–-2.75 D, 21.5%), moderate myopia (-3.00 D– 5.75 D, 9.8%) and high myopia (≤ -6 D, 3.5%). Median Hcy levels were similar in all groups (μmol/l). We observed no association of Hcy with refraction or 5-year change in refraction in the models adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status. Conclusion We found no evidence for an association of Hcy levels and refractive error.