title: Serum ascorbic acid and other correlates of self-reported cataract among older Americans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of self-reported cataract among older Americans, and specifically, to determine whether serum ascorbic acid levels are associated with a decreased prevalence of cataract. A national probability survey of Americans, the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II), was conducted between 1976 and 1980. A total of 4001 participants were included between the ages of 60 and 74 years with data on serum ascorbic acid level and other variables of interest. A total of 252 women (12%) and 164 men (9%) reported a history of cataract. Serum ascorbic acid level was inversely associated with prevalence of cataract in multiple logistic regression analyses; each 1 mg/dl increase was independently associated with a 26% decrease in cataract (P = 0.03). Other independent correlates of cataract included increasing age, female sex, smoking, and diabetes mellitus (all P<0.01). We identified four correlates of cataract among older Americans: serum ascorbic acid level, increasing age, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. Ascorbic acid, a water-soluble antioxidant found in high concentrations in the lens, may be of importance for the prevention of cataract among older Americans.
authors.affiliation: General Internal Medicine Section, Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, and University of California 94121, USA. jasimon@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hudes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid