Elevated Food Inflammation Scores of individuals is a significant risk factor for age-related macular degeneration in adults in the United States: Evidence from NHANES.

Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We evaluated whether the inflammatory potential of the diet (quantified using the newly developed Food Inflammation Scores of individuals [FISI]) influences the incidence of AMD. Participants aged > 40 years were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, totaling 5293 participants, of whom 421 had AMD. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline were used to explore the relationship between FISI and AMD. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between FISI and age. Path analysis was used to explore the correlation among age, FISI, and AMD. Subgroup analysis explored the relationship between FISI and AMD in subgroups. Interaction analysis explored the interaction between FISI and other variables on AMD. FISI was significantly higher in the AMD group than in the Non-AMD group. There was a significant positive linear association between FISI and AMD, and a higher FISI was associated with higher odds of AMD (odds ratios [95% confidence interval]: 1.040 [1.015-1.065]). The cross-sectional pattern was consistent with age being associated with AMD partly through FISI. Higher FISI was significantly associated with higher odds of AMD in some subgroups. FISI had no interaction with subgroup variables on AMD. In this nationally representative cross-sectional sample of the United States adults aged ≥ 40 years, a higher FISI was associated with a higher prevalence of AMD. Because the design is cross-sectional and a substantial portion of this association was attributable to age, the results should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating; prospective studies are needed before recommending FISI-guided dietary intervention as a primary-prevention strategy for AMD.