BACKGROUND: Prospective data on cataract in relation to total fruit and vegetable intake are limited. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether higher fruit and vegetable intake reduces the risk of cataract and cataract extraction in a large, prospective cohort of women. DESIGN: Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline in 1993 among 39 876 female health professionals with the use of a validated, semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. A total of 35 724 of these women were free of a diagnosis of cataract at baseline and were followed for incident cataract and cataract extraction. Cataract was defined as an incident, age-related lens opacity responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse, based on self-report confirmed by medical record review. Individuals, rather than eyes, were the unit of analysis. RESULTS: During an average of 10 y of follow-up, 2067 cataracts and 1315 cataract extractions were confirmed. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of fruit and vegetable intake, women with higher intakes had modest 10-15% reduced risks of cataract (P for trend < 0.05). For cataract extraction, no significant inverse trend was observed (P for trend = 0.12). CONCLUSION: These prospective data suggest that high intake of fruit and vegetables may have a modest protective effect on cataract.
BACKGROUND: Prospective data on cataract in relation to total fruit and vegetable intake are limited. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether higher fruit and vegetable intake reduces the risk of cataract and cataract extraction in a large, prospective cohort of women. DESIGN: Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline in 1993 among 39 876 female health professionals with the use of a validated, semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. A total of 35 724 of these women were free of a diagnosis of cataract at baseline and were followed for incident cataract and cataract extraction. Cataract was defined as an incident, age-related lens opacity responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse, based on self-report confirmed by medical record review. Individuals, rather than eyes, were the unit of analysis. RESULTS: During an average of 10 y of follow-up, 2067 cataracts and 1315 cataract extractions were confirmed. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of fruit and vegetable intake, women with higher intakes had modest 10-15% reduced risks of cataract (P for trend < 0.05). For cataract extraction, no significant inverse trend was observed (P for trend = 0.12). CONCLUSION: These prospective data suggest that high intake of fruit and vegetables may have a modest protective effect on cataract.
Authors: Suzen M Moeller; Rick Voland; Lesley Tinker; Barbara A Blodi; Michael L Klein; Karen M Gehrs; Elizabeth J Johnson; D Max Snodderly; Robert B Wallace; Richard J Chappell; Niyati Parekh; Cheryl Ritenbaugh; Julie A Mares Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 2008-03
Authors: D C Gritz; M Srinivasan; S D Smith; U Kim; T M Lietman; J H Wilkins; B Priyadharshini; R K John; S Aravind; N V Prajna; R Duraisami Thulasiraj; J P Whitcher Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2006-03-23 Impact factor: 4.638
Authors: Ellen E Freeman; Marie-Hélène Roy-Gagnon; Elodie Samson; Slim Haddad; Marie-Josée Aubin; Claudia Vela; Maria Victoria Zunzunegui Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-05-10 Impact factor: 3.240