People | University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Julie Mares, M.S.P.H., Ph.D.
Professor

1063 WARF Office Building
610 North Walnut Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2397
(608) 262-8044

jmarespe@wisc.edu

Affiliate Appointments

Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences; Graduate Program in Population Health; Institute on Aging

Education

B.S. 1976, University of Illinois- Champaign-Urbana; M.S.P.H. 1980, University of Illinois, School of Public Health- Chicago; Ph.D. 1987, Nutritional Sciences. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Summary

The primary goal of my research program is to evaluate relationships of nutritional factors to the onset and progression of common age-related eye diseases in population groups. This information contributes insights regarding the potential importance of specific nutrient factors on the pathogenic processes of these conditions. It also indicates the likelihood that changes in dietary practices or use of supplements can impact on the development of these conditions which are becoming increasingly common as the population ages.

Our research team uses epidemiologic methods to study relationships of nutritional factors to the occurrence of age-related cataract, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. These investigations are performed in different population groups including: over 2000 women over 50 years of age who participate in the Women's Health Initiative, a large cohort of middle-aged and older adults residing in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; a United States sample of persons over 40 years of age and older participating in the Third National Health and Examination Survey; and middle-aged persons from four diverse U.S. communities participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

In order to conduct these population studies, methodologic developments in the techniques to assess these diet components are necessary. Techniques for assessing levels of these dietary components in older adults are developed and evaluated. One example is the development of a protocal to measure retinal carotenoids and to determine the lifestyle, physiologic and personal characteristics that influence these levels.

Representative Publications

Mares, JA: Carotenoids and Eye Disease: Epidemiologic Evidence. In: Carotenoids in Health & Disease. Krinsky N, Mayne S, Sies (ed), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, Chapter 21,2004.

Moeller, S and Mares, JA: Ethnic Differences in Diet and Age-related Maculopathies International Ophthalmology Clinics of North America. Vol 43(4) Fall 2003.

Mares, JA., Ficek, T., Blodi, B. Doctor What Vitamins Should I Take for My Eyes? Arch Opthalmol 2004

Snodderly, M., Mares, JA., Wooten , BR. ,Oxton, LL., Gruber, M., Ficek T. Macular Pigment Measurement by Heterochromatic Flicker Photometry in Older Subjects. The Carotenoids and Age-Related Eye disease Study (CAREDS). Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 2004;45(2):531-538.

Mares, JA. Vitamin Supplements and Cataract. Nutr Rev 2004:Vol 62(1)28-32.

Gruber, M., Chappell, R., Millen, A., Ficek, T., Moeller, S., Mares-Perlman JA. Determinants of Serum Lutein/Zeaxanthin in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Nutr 2004; 2387-2393.

Millen, AE, Klein R, Folsom, AR, Stevens, J, Palta M, Mares JA. Relationships of Dietary Vitamins C and E to Diabetic Retinopathy in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Am J Clin Nut: 2004; 79:865-873.

Millen, AE, Gruber M, Klein R, Klein BEK, Wright JD, Palta M, Mares JA. Relationships of Serum Ascorbic Acid and a-Tocopherol to Diabetic Retinopathy in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) Am J Epidemiol. 2003;158:225-233.

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