A few years ago I wrote about various studies which showed that diet could be useful in preventing against the development of cataract . In that post I mentioned the importance of lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants such as vitamin C and E and also omega 3 fatty acids. Now a new study (1) has found that women who have a healthful diet, rich in a variety of minerals and vitamins might have a lower risk of developing cataracts.
Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop in the lens of the eye, the cloudiness reduces the amount of light transmitted to the retina and this causes poor vision. In the UK about 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 develop a cataract, which gradually forms over many years. Initially vision may only be very mildly affected and this may not progress, however, in some individuals the vision will get worse over time.
The study (1) involved over 1800 women aged between 55-86 who took part in a study known as the “Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease” study. The daily diets of the women were assessed using a specific food frequency questionnaire and the prevalence of nuclear cataract was determined 4-7 years later. The diets were also assessed to see how closely they reflected the 1990 dietary guidelines for Americans and the 1992 food guide pyramid. The authors of the study wanted to see if there were any associations between healthy diet scores and prevalence of nuclear cataract in women (1).
The researchers found (1) that having a high Healthy Eating Index score was the strongest modifiable predictor of low prevalence of nuclear cataract. Foods that contributed to higher diet scores were intakes at or above recommended levels for vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, meat (or beans, fish or eggs) and below recommended levels for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Women with the top 20% of healthy eating scores were found to have a 37% lower risk of developing cataracts than those in the bottom fifth. Higher prevalence of nuclear cataract was also associated with other modifiable factors such as smoking and marked obesity.
The authors conclude that “These data add to the body of evidence suggesting that eating foods rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals may contribute to postponing the occurrence of the most common type of cataract in the United States”. They also write that “Lifestyle improvements that include healthy diets, smoking cessation, and avoiding obesity may substantively lower the need for and economic burden of cataract surgery in aging American women.”
This study (1) is an association study and does not prove that a healthy diet can protect against cataract. However, it does pave the way for further studies and adds to previous evidence which shows that what we eat, and our lifestyles, can impact our eyesight. For more information on diet and eye health please read my previous posts covering the topic
(1)Julie A. Mares JA et al. CAREDS Group. 2010. Healthy Diets and the Subsequent Prevalence of Nuclear Cataract in Women. Arch Ophthalmol. 128 (6): 738-749
Written by Ani Kowal
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