Antioxidant status in persons with and without senile cataract

P. F. Jacques, L. T. Chylack Jr, R. B. McGandy and S. C. Hartz
USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.

The relationship between biochemical markers of antioxidant status and senile cataract was examined in 112 subjects aged 40 to 70 years. Seventy-seven of these subjects had a cataract in at least one lens. Antioxidant status was measured using erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and indexes that included these enzymes plus plasma levels of vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoids. Subjects were grouped by level (low, moderate, or high) of the enzymes and antioxidant indexes. Results suggest that subjects with high levels of at least two of the three vitamins (vitamin E, vitamin C, or carotenoids) are at reduced risk of cataract relative to subjects with low levels of one or more of these vitamins (odds ratio, 0.2). The erythrocyte enzymes, either individually or in combination, did not appear to differ between subjects with and without cataract.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Responses of Human Lens Epithelial Cells to Quercetin and DMSO
Cao et al.
IOVS 2007;48:3714-3718.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Trace Elements
YILDIRIM et al.
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2007;1100:207-212.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Antioxidants in Prevention of Cataracts Study: effects of antioxidant supplements on cataract progression in South India
Gritz et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:847-851.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Statin Use and Incident Nuclear Cataract
Klein et al.
JAMA 2006;295:2752-2758.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in patients with cataract.
Chandrasena et al.
Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science 2006;36:201-204.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hormone Replacement Therapy, Reproductive Factors, and the Incidence of Cataract and Cataract Surgery: : The Blue Mountains Eye Study
Younan et al.
Am J Epidemiol 2002;155:997-1006.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Vitamin C Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Cataract in a Mediterranean Population
Valero et al.
J. Nutr. 2002;132:1299-1306.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose Supplementation With Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene for Age-Related Cataract and Vision Loss: AREDS Report No. 9
Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1439-1452.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Serum Carotenoid Depletion Follows First-Order Kinetics in Healthy Adult Women Fed Naturally Low Carotenoid Diets
Burri et al.
J. Nutr. 2001;131:2096-2100.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Smoking Cessation and Risk of Age-Related Cataract in Men
Christen et al.
JAMA 2000;284:713-716.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A prospective study of carotenoid and vitamin A intakes and risk of cataract extraction in US women
Chasan-Taber et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1999;70:509-516.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Macular pigment and age related macular degeneration
BEATTY et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 1999;83:867-877.
FULL TEXT  

Criteria and Recommendations for Vitamin C Intake
Levine et al.
JAMA 1999;281:1415-1423.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT