relationship between antioxidant nutrient intake and cataracts in older people

• Published in: International journal for vitamin and nutrition research Vol. 76; no. 6; pp. 359 - 366
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Rodriguez, E, Ortega, R.M, Lopez-Sobaler, A.M, Aparicio, A, Bermejo, L.M, Marin-Arias, L.I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; cataract; Cataract - epidemiology; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Diet Surveys; disease prevalence; dosage; dose response; elderly; elderly nutrition; etiology; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Humans; lutein; Lutein - administration & dosage; Male; men; nutrient intake; Odds Ratio; patients; protective effect; Sex Distribution; solar radiation; Spain - epidemiology; Sunlight - adverse effects; women; Xanthophylls - administration & dosage; zeaxanthin; Zeaxanthins; Spain
• ISSN: 0300-9831
• DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831.76.6.359

This study investigated the relationship between the intake of antioxidant nutrients and the suffering of cataracts in 177 institutionalized elderly people (61 men and 116 women) aged greater than or equal to 65 years. Dietary intake was monitored for 7 consecutive days using a precise individual weighing method. Subjects, who during their earlier years were exposed by their work to sunlight, had a greater risk of suffering cataracts (OR = 3.2; Cl: 1.1-9.3, P < 0.05) than those who worked indoors. A relationship was found between increased vitamin C intake and a reduced prevalence of cataracts (i.e., when comparing those above P95 for vitamin C intake with those below P5; (OR = 0.08; Cl: 0.01-0.75, P 0.05). Among subjects with cataracts, 12.1% had vitamin C intakes of < 61 mg/day (P10) and only 2.2% had intakes of > 183 mg/day (P95) (p < 0.01). Subjects who consumed > 3290 microgram/day (P95) of lutein were less likely to have cataracts (OR = 0.086; Cl: 0.007-1.084; p < 0.05) than those whose consumption was < 256 microgram/day (P5). In men, high intakes of zeaxanthin seemed to provide a protective effect against the problem (OR = 0.96; Cl: 0.91-0.99; p < 0.05). The results suggest an association exists between exposure to sunlight and the development of cataracts, and that vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin offer some protection against this disorder.