A prospective cohort study on the associations between dietary patterns in early childhood and myopia 5 years later among children
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026239
- VernacularTitle:儿童幼儿期饮食模式与5年后近视关联的前瞻性队列研究
- Author:
ZHANG Feiyu, TAO Shuman, ZHU Dongqing, TONG Juan, WU Xiaoyan, HUANG Kun, GAO Guopeng, YAN Shuangqin, TAO Fangbiao
1
Author Information
1. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Food habits；Myopia；Cohort studies；Regression analysis；Child
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(8):1080-1085
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the longitudinal associations between dietary patterns in early childhood and myopia among children, so as to provide evidence for improving early childhood dietary patterns and promoting healthy ocular development among children.
Methods:Participants were derived from the Ma-anshan Birth Cohort (MABC). A total of 1 432 children were included. Dietary patterns at 2.5 years of age were collected in 2017 using a food frequency questionnaire completed by parents. In 2022, cycloplegic refraction and ocular biometric parameters were measured in children aged 7-8 years. Food components were grouped into tertiles ( T1-T 3), and latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify dietary pattern at the age of 2.5. Log-binomial regression and multiple linear regression model were applied to examine the associations of dietary patterns and their latent classes with myopia, spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length (AL).
Results:The prevalence of myopia among children was 23.9%. After adjusting for covariates, the T 2 group of cereals and tubers was negatively associated with myopia rate ( RR=0.72, 95%CI =0.57-0.90) and AL ( β=-0.15, 95%CI =-0.24 to -0.05), and positively associated with SE ( β=0.21, 95%CI =0.06-0.35)(all P ＜0.05). Linear regression models showed that the T 2 group of fruits and vegetables was positively associated with AL ( β=0.09, 95%CI =0.00- 0.19 ); the T 3 group of high sugar foods ( β=0.11, 95%CI =0.00-0.21) and the T 3 group of processed foods ( β= 0.10 , 95%CI =0.00-0.19) were positively associated with AL; total scores for high sugar foods ( β=0.07, 95%CI =0.00-0.14) and processed foods ( β=0.09, 95%CI =0.01-0.17) were positively associated with AL (all P <0.05). After adjusting for sex, age, and parental myopia, the comprehensive high intake pattern was positively associated with AL ( β=0.12, 95%CI =0.00-0.23, P <0.05). After further adjusting for daily screen time and daily outdoor activity time, the association was no longer statistically significant ( β= 0.11 , 95%CI =-0.00-0.23, P >0.05).
Conclusions:Moderate consumption of cereals and tubers in early childhood may reduce the risk of myopia and delay AL growth. In contrast, high sugar and highly processed diets may promote AL and increase myopia risk. Establishing healthy dietary habits in early childhood and limiting intake of high sugar and processed foods is crucial for promoting ocular development in children.
