02.22.08
Indication: Cataracts
Source: Arch Ophthalmol, January 2008;126(1):102-9.
Research: Researchers set out to examine the relationship between dietary intake of carotenoids and vitamins C and E and the risk of cataracts in women. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline in 39,876 female health professionals using a detailed food frequency questionnaire. A total of 35,551 women provided detailed information on antioxidant nutrient intake from food and supplements and were free of a diagnosis of cataract. The main outcome measure was cataracts, defined as an incident, age-related lens opacity responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity in the worse eye to 20/30 or worse based on self-report confirmed by medical record review.
Results: A total of 2031 cases of incident cataract were confirmed during a mean of 10 years of follow-up. Through these prospective observational data gathered from a large cohort of female health professionals, researchers concluded that higher dietary intakes of lutein/zeaxanthin and vitamin E from food and supplements were associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract.