Abstract
Objective: To investigate the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages （SSBs）intake and myopia in a large population-based sample.
Study design: A cross-sectional study.
Methods: The data from population under 40 years were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2008. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between the SSBs intake and myopia. Additionally, the relationship between SSBs intake and myopia was further explored using propensity score matching (PSM). The generalized variance inflation factor (GVIF) was calculated to detect the potential for multicollinearity. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was conducted to assess any potential non-linear relationship between SSBs intake and myopia.
Results: Of 11,851 participants under 40 years of age, 3,769 had myopia. The average consumption of SSBs was 664.28±18.43 grams/d in the emmetropia group and 605.35±20.01 grams/d in the myopia group before PSM, but no significant difference was detected after PSM(emmetropia group: 623.83±17.99 grams/d; myopia group:605.35±20.01 grams/d; P = 0.43). Multivariable logistics regression analysis showed SSBs intake was not associated with the risk of myopia before and after PSM, and the presence of multicollinearity was unlikely among all covariates. RCS analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between SSBs intake and the risk of myopia before PSM (P for non-linear = 0.0244). However, after matching, no significant nonlinear associations were observed between SSBs intake and the risk of myopia (P for non-linear = 0.2434).
Conclusion: Our study provides initial evidence that consuming SSBs may not be a risk factor for myopia in a large-scale population. Future longitudinal and experimental studies can shed more light on the relationship between dietary factors and myopia, which can inform public health recommendations and interventions.