vitamin C and cataract formation

Vitamin C deficiency linked to higher cataract risk
Researchers examined 5,638 people age 60 and older from randomly selected villages in north and south India. Subjects were interviewed about socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, and underwent clinical examination. Analysis showed a strong inverse association between vitamin C and cataract (P = .0000011), with minimal impact when other antioxidants were considered in the model (P < .0001). Dietary vitamin C — lutein, zeaxanthin and retinol – was also inversely associated with cataract, but not to the same degree or with the same consistency. Ophthalmology, October 2011

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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Hi Dr. Hagan,

Does this mean that taking vitamin C supplements may be helpful in preventing cataracts?

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[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This study was done on poor people in India with relatively poor nutrition. It's likely that many were deficient in vitamin C. In developed countries with many vitamin enriched foods it's likely this is of less importance. Bottom line we don't know for sure based on one study but for people with poor diets it likely is helpful. The Vitamin C in a multivitamin is enough.

JCH MD