A prospective study of carotenoid and vitamin A intakes and risk of cataract extraction in US women.
BACKGROUND
Oxidation of lens proteins plays a central role in the formation of age-related cataracts, suggesting that dietary antioxidants may play a role in prevention. However, the relation between specific antioxidants and risk of cataract remains uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to examine prospectively the association between carotenoid and vitamin A intakes and cataract extraction in women.


METHODS
A prospective cohort of registered female nurses aged 45-71 y and free of diagnosed cancer was followed; in 1980, 50461 were included and others were added as they became 45 y of age for a total of 77466. Information on nutrient intake was assessed by repeated administration of a food-frequency questionnaire during 12 y of follow-up.


RESULTS
During 761762 person-years of follow-up, 1471 cataracts were extracted. After age, smoking, and other potential cataract risk factors were controlled for, those with the highest intake of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 22% decreased risk of cataract extraction compared with those in the lowest quintile (relative risk: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.95; P for trend = 0.04). Other carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, and beta-cryptoxanthin), vitamin A, and retinol were not associated with cataract in multivariate analysis. Increasing frequency of intakes of spinach and kale, foods rich in lutein, was associated with a moderate decrease in risk of cataract.


CONCLUSIONS
Lutein and zeaxanthin and foods rich in these carotenoids may decrease the risk of cataracts severe enough to require extraction.
Chasan-Taber
L
L
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA. LCT@schoolph.umass.edu
Willett
W C
WC
Seddon
J M
JM
Stampfer
M J
MJ
Rosner
B
B
Colditz
G A
GA
Speizer
F E
FE
Hankinson
S E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000502:physiology
D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein