Dietary antioxidants are associated with presence of intra- and sub-retinal fluid in neovascular age-related macular degeneration after 1 year.

To assess whether dietary intake of antioxidants, fruits, vegetables and fish is associated with 12-month treatment outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients.A total of 547 participants were diagnosed with nAMD at baseline, of whom 494 were followed up after 12 months of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Dietary intakes were determined using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Presence of intra-retinal and sub-retinal fluid (IRF, SRF), pigment epithelial detachment (PED) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded from optical coherence tomography images. Best-corrected visual acuity was recorded using log of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) charts.Participants in the upper three quartiles combined compared to those in the first quartile of baseline dietary zinc intake had 49% reduced odds of SRF 12 months later, multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.89]. The upper three quartiles combined compared to the first quartile of β-carotene intake had 90% greater odds of IRF presence at 12-month follow-up, multivariable-adjusted OR 1.90 (95% CI 1.04-3.46). The highest versus lowest quartile of dietary β-carotene intake had a nearly twofold greater odds of PED presence, multivariable-adjusted OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.03-3.84).A higher intake of dietary zinc was associated with a reduced likelihood of SRF at 1 year. Conversely, a higher intake of dietary β-carotene was associated with an increased risk of IRF and PED. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing nutritional advice for nAMD patients presenting for treatment.