title: The Association of Dietary Lutein plus Zeaxanthin and B Vitamins with Cataracts in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS Report No. 37.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether dietary intake of luteiin/zeaxanthin and B vitamins is associated with cataract prevalence and incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinic-based, baseline cross-sectional and prospective cohort study designs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three thousand one hundred fifteen patients (6129 eyes) enrolled in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 55 to 80 years of age followed up for mean of 9.6 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed baseline food frequency questionnaires. Baseline and annual lens photographs were graded centrally. Multivariate models controlling for previously identified risk factors for cataracts tested for the association of cataracts with reported dietary intake, using the lowest quintile as reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cataract surgery, cataract status (type and severity) at baseline, and development of cataracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, increased dietary riboflavin and B12 were associated inversely with nuclear and cortical lens opacities. In comparisons of persons with and without cataract, persons with the highest riboflavin intake versus those with the lowest intake had the following associations: mild nuclear cataract: odds ratio (OR), 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63-0.97; moderate nuclear cataract: OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.90; and mild cortical cataract: OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65-0.99. For B12, the results were: mild nuclear cataract: OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63-0.96; moderate nuclear cataract: OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.88; and mild cortical cataract: OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.95. Highest dietary B6 intake was associated with a decreased risk of moderate nuclear lens opacity developing compared with the lowest quintile (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.99). Highest dietary intake levels of niacin and B12 were associated with a decreased risk of development of mild nuclear or mild cortical cataracts in participants not taking Centrum (Pfizer, New York, NY) multivitamins. For participants taking multivitamins during the study, the highest intake of dietary folate was associated with an increased risk of mild posterior subcapsular lens opacity development. No statistically significant associations were found between lutein plus zeaxanthin intake and presence at baseline or development of nuclear or cortical lens opacity outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are consistent with earlier studies suggesting that dietary intake of B vitamins may affect the occurrence of age-related lens opacities. Further investigations are warranted.
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Tanya S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nigam
authors.affiliation: EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sperduto
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agrón
authors.affiliation: EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Traci E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.affiliation: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Electronic address: echew@nei.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Emily Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chew
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014975:Lutein