Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine if nutrient intake is associated with altered rates of progress of nuclear cataract. Methods: In 1993, we enrolled in the Nutrition and Vision Project (NVP) 603 of the eligible 1,707 Boston area residents who were among the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) cohort and who were 54 to 73 years of age. Between 1980 and 1995, the NVP/NHS members completed five food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and biennial NHS questionnaires containing data regarding use of Vitamins E, C, and multivitamins. We also photographed their lenses and retinas. This was repeated 5 years later. These images were analyzed to generate a measure of nuclear opacification (nuclear density, ND) expressed in pixel density units (PDU). Mean change in ND between baseline and five-year follow up was compared between categories of duration of vitamin supplement use by analysis of covariance using SAS PROC MIXED procedure. Results and Conclusion: The mean age of the women at follow up was 67 years. For 407 subjects with complete follow-up data. NMD scores ranged from 19-102 at baseline and 32-213 at follow up. The change in NMD scores was 29% lower in users (intake 362 mg/day) vs. never users (intake 10 mg/day) of Vitamin E supplements for ≷10 years (P=0.004). Use of other vitamin supplements was not significantly associated with progress for opacity.
Keywords: 338 cataract • 321 antioxidants • 309 aging