Healthy lifestyle score and incidence of glaucoma: The Sun Project

The relationship between modifiable risk factors, such as diet and lifestyle, and glaucoma remains controversial. A research team analysed the effect of the Mediterranean lifestyle (ML) on glaucoma incidence in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” (SUN) Project.
The SUN Healthy Lifestyle Score (SHLS) includes 10 healthy habits: never having smoked, moderate to high physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, moderate alcohol consumption, low television exposure, no binge drinking, short afternoon napping, meeting up with friends, working at least 40 h/wk, and low body mass index. The information was collected biennially through self-reported questionnaires.
During a median of 12 years of follow-up, 261 (1.42%) new cases of glaucoma were identified among 18,420 participants. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the healthiest SHLS category showed a significantly reduced risk of glaucoma compared to those in the lowest SHLS category (adjusted HR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28-0.93). For each point added to the SHLS, the risk of glaucoma relatively dropped 5%.
Higher adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle, including moderate alcohol consumption, measured by the SHLS, was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing glaucoma. Based on the study, the Mediterranean lifestyle is a protective factor for glaucoma incidence, the researchers conclude.
Source: Moreno-Montañés J, Gándara E, Gutierrez-Ruiz I, Moreno-Galarraga L, Ruiz-Canela M, Bes-Rastrollo M, Martínez-González MÁ, Fernandez-Montero A. Healthy Lifestyle Score and Incidence of Glaucoma: The Sun Project. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 12;14(4):779.