Association between oxidative balance score and prevalent age-related macular degeneration in US adults

The association between oxidative balance score (OBS) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in US adults currently remains unknown. This research aimed to explore the specific association between OBS and AMD. OBS was acquired based on dietary and lifestyle factors, including 16 nutrients and 4 lifestyle components. Weighted logistic regressions were used to explore the associations between OBS and the prevalence of AMD. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted to understand the relationships across different populations. Furthermore, linear or nonlinear correlations were assessed by spline smoothing and threshold effect analyses. A total of 2408 participants were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) in the United States. This research demonstrated a negative association between OBS and AMD; an increase in OBS may reduce the AMD prevalence. Specifically, lifestyle OBS showed the most consistent inverse association with AMD. Higher lifestyle OBS was associated with lower odds of prevalent AMD, while total and dietary OBS showed directionally inverse but non-significant associations after full adjustment. This negative association varied significantly across different subgroups, with more pronounced effects observed in younger or unmarried individuals, non-Hispanic Black races, and those with diabetes or hyperlipidemia within each stratum. Specifically, it was found that this association effect of OBS with AMD was observably greater in people aged 40 to 49 years [OR = 1.05 (0.91, 1.21), P for interaction = 0.0191], unmarried people [OR = 1.38 (0.83, 2.30), P for interaction = 0.0125], non-Hispanic Black [OR = 1.16 (0.90, 1.49), P for interaction = 0.0215], patients with diabetes [OR = 1.25 (1.01, 1.56), P for interaction = 0.0228], and people without hyperlipidemia [OR = 1.67 (1.23, 2.28), P for interaction = 0.0338]. Furthermore, no statistical evidence of nonlinear association was identified using spline smoothing. There exists a possible negative association between OBS and AMD in US adults. OBS is associated with AMD prevalence.