ABSTRACT
Background
Glaucoma is the leading irreversible cause of blindness worldwide. Dietary hexadecenoic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory and lipid-modulating properties. However, its association with glaucoma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary hexadecenoic acid intake and glaucoma among adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008, including 705 participants aged ≥ 40 years. Dietary hexadecenoic acid intake was assessed through two 24-h dietary recalls, and glaucoma diagnosis was based on expert grading of optic disc images. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between dietary hexadecenoic acid intake and glaucoma prevalence. Dose-response relationships between dietary hexadecenoic acid intake and glaucoma were explored using restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve analysis. The subgroup analysis evaluated the consistency of the association across different populations.
Results
Participants with higher dietary hexadecenoic acid intake showed a significantly lower prevalence of glaucoma. In fully adjusted models, each 1 g/day increase in hexadecenoic acid intake was associated with a 39% reduction in glaucoma prevalence (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41–0.91, p = 0.018). Quartile analysis revealed that participants in the highest quartile of hexadecenoic acid intake had a lower glaucoma prevalence compared to the lowest quartile. RCS curve analysis demonstrated a linear negative correlation. Subgroup analyses indicated that the negative effects of dietary hexadecenoic acid intake on glaucoma were stronger in males, low-education and non-diabetic individuals.
Conclusion
Higher dietary hexadecenoic acid intake is associated with reduced glaucoma prevalence. Given the limitations of cross-sectional studies, in the future, prospective studies should be conducted to verify the protective effect of hexadecenoic acid on glaucoma.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 39, Issue 1, February 2026. Read More