Plasma antioxidants and risk of cortical and nuclear cataract.
We evaluated nutritional risk factors for cataract in 660 subjects enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging. As a part of a regular cycle of visits, nuclear and cortical lens photographs were taken over a 2-year period. Measurements of plasma antioxidants (beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol) were obtained in this cohort as part of the study protocol up to 4 years before lens photographs were taken. We found that plasma beta-carotene and ascorbic acid levels were not associated with risk of nuclear or cortical lens opacities. Higher levels of plasma alpha-tocopherol, however, were associated with a reduced risk of nuclear opacity [odds ratio (OR) for highest quartile vs lowest quartile = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.27-0.98; OR for middle two quartiles vs lowest quartile = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30-0.98], after adjusting for age, sex, and history of diabetes. Middle levels of alpha-tocopherol were associated with a reduced risk of cortical opacity (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.32-1.02), but no such association was observed for high levels of alpha-tocopherol. We constructed an index of overall antioxidant status, which indicated that higher levels of plasma antioxidants were not associated with risk of nuclear or cortical opacities.
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Baltimore, MD.
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Vitale
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West
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Hallfrisch
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Alston
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Wang
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Moorman
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Muller
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Singh
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Taylor
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid