RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Cataract is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in the world. In the present study, we have been trying to investigate the relationship between major dietary patterns and cataract. DESIGN: This was a case-control study. SETTING: An ophthalmology outpatient clinic of Khatam al-Anbia Hospital, in Shoushtar city. PARTICIPANTS: 336 subjects (168 patients with cataract and 168 healthy ones), from 40 to 80 years old, were recruited. MEASUREMENTS: A socio-demographic questionnaire was used to record the demographic information. A food frequency questionnaire was used to determine the foods consumed during the last year. The principal component analysis was used to extract major dietary patterns. The possible relationship between the major dietary patterns and cataract was assessed by multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: We tried to eliminate the effect of cofactors. The results showed "dairy products and vegetables" dietary pattern had a negative association with cataract (OR: 0.301, 95%CI =0.137-0.658, P trend =0.002). The fourth quartile of the "traditional" dietary pattern also showed a protective role against the cataract (OR: 0.393, 95%CI =0.184-0.842, P trend = 0.036). The third and fourth quartiles of "carbohydrate and simple sugar" pattern were more related with cataract compared to the first quartile (OR: 3.574, 95%CI =1.665-7.671, and OR: 5.067, 95%CI =2.265-11.335, P trend <0.001 respectively). No significant association was found between «nuts, seeds and simple sugar" dietary pattern and cataract. CONCLUSION: It seems a dietary pattern rich in proteins and vegetables can decrease the risk of cataract in middle-aged and aged subjects.