Antioxidant status in persons with and without senile cataract

ABSTRACT

To investigate the relationships between dietary intake of antioxidant vitamin C, E and A and nuclear, cortical and posterior sub capsular cataracts in a group of elderly men and women. Design: Cross-sectional survey based on a retrospective case-control study. Subjects: 40 patient men and women aged 40-79 years old with senile cataract and 26 persons without cataract the same age range were selected among the patient referred to the ophthalmic clinic of Motahary Center. Setting: The lens-opacities classification system [LOCS] III was used to grade nuclear, cortical, and posterior sub capsular lens opacities. Fasting blood samples were taken to assess plasma concentrations of vitamin C. Food frequency questionnaires were incorporated for recognition of their food habits. Plasma level of vitamin C in cataract patient [0.9 ' 0.6 mg/dl] were significantly [p<0.002] lower than control group [1.4 ' 0.5 mg/dl]. Dietary intake of vitamin C [p<0.001], vitamin E [p<0.001] and vitamin A [p<0.04] in cataract patient were significantly lower than control group. In this group of elderly cataract patient we found statistically significant association between nuclear [p<0.006] and posterior sub capsular opacities [p<0.01] and dietary intake of antioxidant vitamin C, E and A. These findings suggest that a diet rich in antioxidant vitamin C, E and A may have implications for delay or prevention of senile cataract formation