title: The relationship between antioxidant nutrient intake and cataracts in older people.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between the intake of antioxidant nutrients and the suffering of cataracts in 177 institutionalized elderly people (61 men and 116 women) aged > or = 65 years. Dietary intake was monitored for 7 consecutive days using a "precise individual weighing" method. Subjects, who during their earlier years were exposed by their work to sunlight, had a greater risk of suffering cataracts (OR = 3.2; CI: 1.1-9.3, P < 0.05) than those who worked indoors. A relationship was found between increased vitamin C intake and a reduced prevalence of cataracts (i.e., when comparing those above P95 for vitamin C intake with those below P5; (OR = 0.08; CI: 0.01-0.75, P 0.05). Among subjects with cataracts, 12.1% had vitamin C intakes of < 61 mg/day (P10) and only 2.2% had intakes of > 183 mg/day (P95) (p < 0.01). Subjects who consumed > 3290 microg/day (P95) of lutein were less likely to have cataracts (OR = 0.086; CI: 0.007-1.084; p < 0.05) than those whose consumption was < 256 microg/day (P5). In men, high intakes of zeaxanthin seemed to provide a protective effect against the problem (OR = 0.96; CI: 0.91-0.99; p < 0.05). The results suggest an association exists between exposure to sunlight and the development of cataracts, and that vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin offer some protection against this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: López-Sobaler
authors.forename: Aranzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.forename: Lilliam I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Marín-Arias
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D014975:Lutein