Diet and Nuclear Lens Opacities

Abstract

Relations between diet and nuclear opacities in the lens of the eye were investigated in a population-based cohort of middle-aged and older adults who lived in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Nuclear sclerosis was assessed from photographs of the lens taken during 1988-1990 in 1,919 persons in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Diets in the past (1978-1980) were assessed retrospectively with the use of a food frequency questionnaire in home interviews. Relations with intake of foods and nutrients were evaluated using logistic regression analyses. In men, after controlling for age, smoking, and heavy drinking, intakes of numerous nutrients in the highest versus lowest quintile were associated with 40-50 percent reduced odds of more severe nuclear sclerosis. Relations with some nutrients (vitamins A, C, and E, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin) were at least partly explained by previously identified inverse associations with multivitamin use. Relations with other nutrients (folate, alpha-carotene, and dietary fiber) appeared to reflect associations with intake of foods, particularly vegetables. Inverse associations with individual nutrients and foods were often weaker or nonexistent in women. These data indicate that the intake of vitamin supplements (in men and women) and certain foods (particularly in men) may explain associations of several nutrients with risk for nuclear sclerosis.

Essential fatty acids and breast cancer: A case-control study in Uruguay

“…A major limitation is related to the control series, which included a number of conditions which could be related to dietary changes. However, diseases such as fractures and lens opacities were studied previously and no major alteration in the dietary lipids have been detected (Mares-Perlman et al, 1995;Huang et al, 1996). Among the strengths, the similar catchment areas and the almost complete participation rate goes against a possible selection 1 Interquartile range in grams or milligrams per day.-2 OR1: Odds ratios adjusted for age, residence, urban/rural status, family history of breast cancer in first degree relative, body mass index, age at menarche, parity, alcohol drinking, total energy, dietary fiber, and folate intakes.-3 OR2: Odds ratios adjusted for age, residence, urban/rural status, family history of breast cancer in first degree relative, body mass index, age at menarche, parity, alcohol drinking, total energy intake, dietary fiber, folate intake, and total fat intake.-4 OR3: Odds ratios adjusted for age, residence, urban/rural status, family history of breast cancer in first degree relative, body mass index, age at menarche, parity, alcohol drinking, total energy intake, dietary fiber, folate intake, and quartiles of the other dietary lipids.…”

A prospective study of the relationship between body mass index and cataract extraction among US women and men

“…36,37,25 The principal analysis is based on three cataract subtypes: (1) any cataract without regard to lens location (n ¼ 4430); (2) only nuclear cataract in either eye if unilateral, or both eyes if bilateral as determined by the participant's eye doctor (n ¼ 1261); similarly (3) posterior subcapsular cataract in either eye if unilateral, or both eyes if bilateral (n ¼ 573). We used nuclear or PSC 'only' definitions (rather than 'any' or 'primarily' nuclear=PSC) to minimize the possibility of misclassification of cataract subtype by the reporting eye doctors.…”

Long-term Nutrient Intake and 5-Year Change in Nuclear Lens Opacities

“…In spite of the fairly consistent evidence relating higher riboflavin intake to a reduced risk of nuclear opacities, it was difficult in many of these studies to separate the potential influence of riboflavin on risk of nuclear opacities from that of other nutrients, such as niacin and thiamin 25,27 or vitamin C. 6 As in the present study, niacin and thiamin intakes were also inversely associated with prevalence of nuclear opacities in the Beaver Dam cohort 25 and the Blue Mountains Eye Study, 27 but the independent contribution of these nutrients and riboflavin could not be determined because of the high correlation between these nutrients. The relation between riboflavin and nuclear opacities was also examined in the Linxian cataract studies.…”