Vitamin C can protect against cataracts

A diet rich in vitamin C could cut the risk that cataracts will progress by a third, according to a study of 151 monozygotic and 173 dizygotic twins. Indeed, diet and lifestyle may be more influential than genetics in driving cataract development and severity.

Researchers followed white, female twins aged, at baseline, 50.1 to 83.1 years (mean 62.3 years) from the TwinsUK study for an average of 9.4 years. Statistical modelling suggested that genes accounted for 35% of the risk of progression and ‘individual environmental factors’, such as diet, for 65%.

Seven micronutrients were associated significantly with central nuclear dip score, which measures lens opacification: potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, vitamins C and E, and folate. After allowing for inter-relationships between the nutrients, vitamin C and manganese remained associated with cataracts at baseline. Vitamin C was associated with cataract progression.