Comparison of serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with senile cataract and age-matched individuals without cataract

Abstract

Aim:The study was to analyze mean serum sodium and potassium levels in cataract patients and age-matched individuals without cataract.Methods and Materials:It was a prospective case-control study. Individuals more than 50 years of age who attended our ophthalmic center in the year 2007-2010 were grouped into those having cataract and those without cataract. Mean serum sodium and potassium levels in the cataract groups were calculated and compared with the control group. Statistical software SPSS14 was used for statistical analysis.Results:Mean serum sodium levels in cataract group was 135.1 meqv/l and 133 meqv/l in the control group. Mean potassium was 3.96 meqv/l in the case study group and 3.97 meqv/l in controls. Mean sodium levels among cases were significantly higher than control group. No difference was seen in the PSC group and control. The difference in mean potassium among the two groups was statistically insignificant.Conclusion:Diets with high sodium contents are a risk factor for senile cataract formation and dietary modifications can possibly reduce the rate of progression cataract.

Senile Cataract Patients; Serum Electrolytes and Calcium

“…5 The difference in mean potassium between the two groups was statistically insignificant. Authors concluded that diet with high sodium content was a risk factor for senile cataract formation and dietary modifications could possibly reduce the rate of progression of cataract.…”

Serum electrolyte changes in senile cataract patients at tertiary care teaching hospital in Marathwada region, Maharashtra, India

“…Our results are matching with various previous studies. 10,11 As we know in lens there is low amount of sodium and high amount of potassium. There is a role of Na + -K + ATP ase pump and capsular permeability of lens, which maintains the balance between Na and K ions, In this way permeability of lens is maintained.…”

Comment on: Comparison of serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with senile cataract and age-matched individuals without cataract

“…We read with great interest the study by Mathur and Pai[1] entitled, “Comparison of serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with senile cataract and age-matched individuals without cataract,” in which the authors showed that higher serum sodium level is associated with increased risk of senile cataract. We believe that the authors should be congratulated for the great work as the results suggested that high sodium intake could be a risk factor of senile cataract, and underlined the importance of low salt diet, which is in accordance with a recent study on a large population in Korea.…”

“…[1] To prove this postulate, it would be helpful to collect the aqueous humor sample from the cataract patients before surgery and evaluate the correlation between the sodium concentration in aqueous humor and the severity of cataract. Studies using animal models would also be interesting.…”

“…Although patients with systemic diseases affecting serum sodium level were excluded in their study,[1] we are afraid that the possibility cannot be completely ruled out that patients who do not aware of their metabolic diseases or those with subclinical diseases were accidently included in the study. In these cases, detailed questionnaire and screening tests including blood chemistry panel could be valuable tools.…”