Intake of Vegetables and Fruits and the Risk of Cataract Incidence in a Japanese Population: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Although the consumption of vegetables and fruits is reported to influence the risk of cataract, no prospective study of this association from Asia has yet appeared. Here, we investigated the association between vegetable and fruit intake and cataract incidence in a large-scale population-based prospective cohort study in Japan. Methods: This study included 32,387 men and 39,333 women aged 45-74 years who had no past history of cataract and had completed a dietary questionnaire of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Cohort Study. The incidence of cataract was evaluated after 5-year follow-up. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to estimate the sex-specific odds ratios (ORs), with adjustment for confounding factors. Results: We identified 1,836 incident cataracts in 594 men and 1,242 women. In men, the OR for cataract was decreased with higher intake of vegetables (OR Q5 vs Q1 , 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-1.01; P trend across quartile categories = 0.03) and cruciferous vegetables (OR Q5 vs Q1 , 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.96; P trend = 0.02). In contrast, the OR for cataract was increased with higher intake of vegetables among women (OR Q5 vs Q1 , 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.53; P trend = 0.01). Green and yellow vegetable and fruit intake were not associated with cataract in either sex. Conclusions: This study suggests that vegetables may reduce the risk of cataract in men, but not in women.

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cataract: insights from the UK Biobank study

“…Most previous studies demonstrated an inverse association between higher intake of carotene and lutein, which are abundant in green and yellow vegetables, and reduced risk of cataract [29,30]. However, both the BMES and JPHC study, as well as the current study, found no significant association between cataract and green or yellow vegetable intake [23,31]. The association between fruit intake and cataract risk was also controversial in literature.…”

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cataract: insights from the UK Biobank Study

“…[21] On the contrary, the Japanese Public Health Center-Based Prospective(JPHC) Study, which included 32,387 men and 39,333 women aged 45-74 years and followed up for ve years, found that with more vegetable intake, the risk of cataract decreased in men but increased in women. [22] Fruit intake was not associated with cataract risk in the JPHC study. In the prospective Swedish Mammography…”

“…However, in the aforementioned JPHC study, the highest quintile of cruciferous vegetables was associated with a 26% decreased risk of cataract, though only in men. [22] Liu et al suggested that sulforaphane, a sulfur-rish compound in cruciferous vegetables, could protect human lens cells against oxidative stress based on an in-vitro study. [27] Most previous studies demonstrated an inverse association between higher intake of carotene and lutein, which are abundant in green and yellow vegetables, and reduced risk of cataract.…”

“…[28-29] However, both the BMES and JPHC study, as well as the current study, found no signi cant association between cataract and green or yellow vegetable intake. [22,30] The association between fruit intake and cataract risk was also controversial in literature. The bene cial effect of fruit intake on cataract had been reported in the WHS study, but not in the JPHC study.…”

“…The bene cial effect of fruit intake on cataract had been reported in the WHS study, but not in the JPHC study. [22,24] One in vitro study proved that the Luffa cylindrica Roem fruit extract could prevent cataract progression. [31] In our study, signi cant bene cial effect on cataract risk were found for higher intake of apple and pear, which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.…”