SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
Vitamins Protect Against Cataracts
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
December 10 2000 | 2,363 views

The risk of cataracts, may be reduced by long-term use of a daily multivitamin, recent study findings suggest.

  • Researchers examined data from more than 3,000 people aged 43 to 86 years.
  • Individuals who took a multivitamin or a supplement that contained vitamin C or E for more than 10 years had a 60% lower risk of developing a cataract regardless of other risk factors.
  • Taking the multivitamins or supplements for less than 10 years did not appear to lower the risk.

People who took vitamin pills tended to be:

  • Female
  • Physically active
  • Lower body weights
  • Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables

This evidence of cataract protection is even more important because as the ranks of elderly Americans continues to swell, the incidence of cataracts is expected to triple in the next half century, the researchers report.

"There is evidence that certain dietary components, such as vitamins and minerals involved in protection against oxidative stress, may have a role in slowing cataract development," the study authors write.

Archives of Ophthalmology November, 2000;118:1556-1563



Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Follow me on facebook

It has been known for some time that anti-oxidants are important for preventing cataracts. It is good to see this being published in a good peer-reviewed AMA journal. Unfortunately antioxidants do not work if one already has cataracts. It is also probable that the increase consumption of whole foods and vegetables was a more powerful influence than the supplements themselves as this variable was not really controlled for in the research.

Related Articles:

Inhaled Steroid for Asthma Tied to Cataracts

VITAMIN C CUTS CATARACT RISK

LONG-TERM ASPIRIN USE LINKED TO CATARACTS






 
 
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.