title: Age-related changes of vitamin C levels in aqueous humour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age-related cataract is a common disease among senior population. Vitamin C is the most effective reducing hydrosoluble antioxidant causing reduction in the levels of free radicals in crystaline lens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the age-related change of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) level in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 74 patients, divided into 3 age groups, with age-related cataract, underwent routine phaco cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation. Aqueous humor was aspirated from 74 eyes at the beginning of phacoemulsification. The levels of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) in aqueous humor were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of pa- tients included in the study was 65 ± 9.85 years (54-87 years). The level of vitamin C in aqueous humor was 152.78 ± 7.0125 µg/mL in the group A (50-59 years), 134.15 ± 5.1569 µg/mL in the group B (60-69 years) and 106.51 ± 5.44 µg/mL in the group C (over 70 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amount of vitamin C in aqueous humor of patients with age-related cataract is decreasing with age. There was a statistically significant change (p < 0.001) of vitamin C aqueous concentration in the patients of different age. This decrease could play a role in susceptibility to cataract formation in older population.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Canadananović
authors.forename: Slobodanka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latinović
authors.forename: Sava
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barišić
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jovanović
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid