title: Sugar alcohols in the lens epithelium of age-related cataract.
abstract: We have measured the levels of glucose and sugar alcohols in the lens epithelium of 24 non-diabetic and 21 diabetic patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction for age-related cataract. Lens status was assessed preoperatively according to the Lens Opacities Classification System II. In comparison to non-diabetics, the lens epithelia of diabetic patients have increased levels of glucose and sorbitol, and lower content of myo-inositol. Both myo-inositol decrease and sorbitol accumulation are strictly related to the fasting blood sugar level. No correlation or trend was detected in diabetic subjects between myo-inositol or sorbitol level and cataract type. In non-diabetic patients nuclear opacification was associated with a significant increase of myo-inositol level in lens epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Oftalmologia, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belpoliti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maraini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007294:Inositol; D013012:Sorbitol