American Academy of Ophthalmology
Eating foods rich in vitamin C could help cut the risk of cataract progression by a third, says a new study recently published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Researchers at King's College London reportedly examined data from more than 1,000 pairs of female twins from the United Kingdom. Participants were asked to track their intake of vitamin C and other nutrients, and digital imaging was used to measure the progression of cataracts around the age of 60. Then a follow-up measurement was conducted on 324 pairs of twins 10 years later.
During baseline measurement, diets rich in vitamin C were associated with a 20 percent risk reduction for cataract, and after 10 years women who said they consumed more vitamin C-rich foods at a 33 percent risk reduction. Researchers also found genetic factors accounted for 35 percent of the difference in cataract progression and environmental factors, such as diet, accounted for 65 percent.
The results of this study are reportedly the first to suggest that genetic factors may be less important in progression of cataract than previously thoughts.
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