Niacin intake and open-angle glaucoma in Korean adults
What it found
In a nationwide survey of Korean adults aged 40 and over, people with glaucoma tended to eat less niacin than those without it.
The link held even when eye pressure was taken into account.
What they found
Studies in people
Niacin and glaucoma
After adjusting for age, sex, income, education, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diabetes, high blood pressure, eye pressure and total energy, niacin intake was linked to glaucoma. People who ate less niacin were more likely to have glaucoma.
Normal-tension glaucoma
Among people with eye pressure of 21 mmHg or less, only niacin was linked to glaucoma. Those with normal-tension glaucoma ate less niacin than the other nutrients studied.
Eye pressure unchanged
Average eye pressure did not differ across the quarters of intake for any nutrient. The link between niacin and glaucoma held even after accounting for eye pressure.
Supplements excluded
When people taking supplements were left out of the analysis, higher intake of riboflavin and niacin were each linked to a lower chance of having glaucoma.
Other nutrients
In the first analysis, intake of fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, beta-carotene, retinol, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C was each linked to glaucoma. After full adjustment, only niacin remained linked.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, this population-based study found that lower nutrient intake of niacin was associated with glaucoma.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that lower nutrient intake of niacin was associated with glaucoma, and that lower niacin intake was associated with normal-tension glaucoma.
- They say niacin remained the factor related to glaucoma after excluding subjects taking supplements.
- They advise that the finding needs confirmation from longitudinal, prospective studies.
How it was done
Glaucoma is a leading cause of sight loss, and eye pressure is its most important treatable risk factor. But glaucoma can still develop when eye pressure is normal, and scientists do not yet know why, so the authors looked at diet as a possible factor.
They used data from 16,770 adults aged 40 and over in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, collected between 2008 and 2012. Diet was recorded from one 24-hour food recall, and eye examinations were used to diagnose glaucoma.
What it can’t tell you
- This kind of study cannot show cause and effect between niacin intake and glaucoma.
- Diet was recorded only once, so it may not reflect what people usually eat.
- The authors say a randomised trial or a long-term cohort study is needed to confirm the finding.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that no competing interests exist with the funder. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
- Authors work at
- The Catholic University of Korea, Korea
The paper
- Title
- Dietary Niacin and Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Jung KI, Kim YC, Park CK (2018). Dietary Niacin and Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu10040387Free full textPubMed 29565276DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error