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.
Vitale
S
S
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Baltimore, MD.
West
S
S
Hallfrisch
J
J
Alston
C
C
Wang
F
F
Moorman
C
C
Muller
D
D
Singh
V
V
Taylor
H R
HR
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