Cataracts are responsible for 48% of the world’s blindness, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  They are characterized by a cloudiness in the lens that obstructs vision, and are treated via surgery.

A recent study assessed over 5500 subjects in India to see whether there was a correlation between various nutrients and the incidence of cataracts.  Vitamin C was found to reduce the incidence of cataract by 32%.  The reduction was as good or greater when the type of cataract was described: nuclear cataract, 34%; cortical cataract, 30%; posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC), 42%.  Lutein, zeaxanthin and retinol also caused a reduced risk, but it was weaker than that of vitamin C, and not consistent across types of cataract.  Beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol were also evaluated and did not significantly reduce risk.

To see the study abstract, click here ^[1].

Risa Schulman, PhD
Expert, Healthy Food and Dietary Supplement Science, Marketing and Regulatory
Tap~Root