Vitamin Supplement Use and Incident Cataracts in a Population-Based Study

Abstract

To determine the relationship between vitamin supplement use and the 5-year incidence of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataract in the Beaver Dam Eye Study cohort. Design: The 5-year incidence of cataract, determined from slitlamp (nuclear cataract) and retroillumination (cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract) photographs, was assessed in a population-based cohort of persons participating in baseline (1988-1990) and follow-up (1993-1995) examinations. Detailed data regarding the type, dosage, and duration of supplement use were obtained by in-person interviews at follow-up. Participants: Residents of Beaver Dam, Wis, aged 43 to 86 years, were identified by private census. Of the 3684 participants in both baseline and follow-up examinations, 3089 wereeligibleforincidentcataractanalysisinthepresentstudy. Results: Compared with nonusers, the 5-year risk for any cataract was 60% lower among persons who, at follow

Vitamin E Can Protect against Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Cataract in Albino Rats

“…In the Physicians' Health Study, men who used multivitamin supplements had a decreased risk of cataract extraction after 5 years of follow-up [9]. Associations between a decreased risk for cataract and nutritional supplements, such as vitamin E [33] or multivitamins [34], were reported in other studies. A longitudinal epidemiological study of the natural history of lens opacities performed by Leske et al [10] suggested that the use of supplements of vitamin E decrease the risk for progression of nuclear opacities.…”

Risk factors for cataract subtypes waterclefts and retrodots: two case–control studies

“…51 In the Beaver Dam Eye Study, the use of multivitamins or any supplement containing vitamin C or E for more than 10 years duration lowered the risk for nuclear and cortical cataracts. 52 In the Boston Nurses' Health Study, after adjustment for other nutrients vitamin C intake remained significantly protective against nuclear opacification as did duration of vitamin C supplement use and plasma measures of vitamins C and E. 53 In the Lens Opacities Case-control Study, the risk of nuclear opacities was reduced to less than one half in participants with higher levels of vitamin E. 45 In a Mediterranean case-control study of mixed cataract dietary intake of vitamins C, E and selenium were marginally associated with decreased risk, and blood levels of vitamin C above 49 mmol/l were associated with a 64% reduction of the odds for cataract. 54 In the present case-control studies we did not find associations with dietary vitamin C. In a study in the north of England the risk of nuclear cataract, after adjustment, was lowest in people with the highest plasma concentrations of alphacarotene or beta-carotene; cortical cataract risk was lowest in people with the highest plasma concentrations of lycopene and PSC cataract risk was lowest in those with higher concentrations of lutein.…”

Lens ageing as an indicator of tissue damage associated with smoking and non-enzymatic glycation - a twin study

“…We showed a strong correlation between lens autofluorescence and smoking and though the effect of active smoking was accounted for in the analysis, some of the shared environmental effects could be attributable to growing up in a smoking or non-smoking family. Intake of antioxidants have been linked to a decreased risk for developing cataract [14,15]; thus, childhood dietary habits could also contribute to the effect of shared environment. Intrauterine factors, such as growth retardation, are known to be important for development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in adults [16] and could thus exert an effect on lens autofluorescence in this group of adult twins through the ability to form advanced glycation end products.…”