ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Several studies on cataract have suggested that antioxidant micronutrients such as alpha-tocopherol, retinol and ascorbic acid may help to protect against cataractogenesis. Our objective was to determine the serum concentration of these antioxidant vitamins in subjects with cataract to see if there is any correlation between the levels of essential vitamins and the development of cataract. METHODS: The study was performed on a total of 88 patients and healthy controls who were given physical examinations that included a complete eye examination. Ascorbic acid was measured in serum with UV/Vis spectrophotometry, and fat-soluble vitamins were measured in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography according to previously published methods. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol in patients (9.16 +/- 2.53 microg/ml) with cataract was lower than in the control group (p < 0.001). Patients had a moderately lower ascorbic acid concentration than the control group, which was not statistically significant. The subjects' serum retinol levels were similar to control group levels and not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: While this is a small-scale case study it can nonetheless be viewed as presenting support to help narrow the possibility that antioxidative agents may play a role in delaying cataract formation.
Subject(s)
Ascorbic Acid/blood , Cataract/epidemiology , Nutrition Assessment , Vitamin A/blood , alpha-Tocopherol/blood , Antioxidants/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Cataract/blood , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nutritional Status , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Age-related cataract is an ever-increasing health problem among the elderly population worldwide. In recent years, there has been speculation that the levels of micronutrients in ocular tissue may play a role in the pathogenesis of cataract, especially zinc, since it is found in high concentrations in the eye tissues, including the aqueous humor. 44 subjects diagnosed with cataract were chosen for study and matched with 21 healthy controls to determine the concentration of zinc in aqueous humor. The findings revealed that a significantly higher concentration of zinc was present in the aqueous humor of our study population compared to controls (p < 0.001). These findings, in agreement with several previous studies, amplify the need for further investigation to determine if these higher levels are in actuality a consequence of the disease or a factor in the formation of cataract.
