Articles about Eye Health and Disease 2002
 

Lens Aging in Relation to Nutritional Determinants and Possible Risk Factors for Age-Related Cataract

(From Berendschot TJM, PhD, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120:1732-1737)

This study investigated whether nutritional factors and possible risk factors for cataract influence the lens optical density (clouding of the lens, as occurs with cataract).  Three hundred seventy-six subjects, aged 18 to 75 years, were recruited. In a cross-sectional design, blood levels were analyzed for the antioxidant levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, Vitamin E, and cholesterol levels were measured. In 187 study participants, adipose tissue (fat tissue) was analyzed for lutein level. The lens optical density and the macular pigment optical density (retinal pigmentation, which may play a role in macular degeneration) were measured by spectral fundus reflectance. 

Results:  The mean lens optical density showed a significant association with age (worsening density), as did the the macular pigment optical density (decreased density). For subjects 50 years and younger , only age was found to be associated with the lens optical density. For subjects older than 50 years, significant coefficients associated with lens optical density were found for age, and for macular pigment density (the macular density was inversely proportional to the nuclear density). Controlling for age, we found no associations between lens optical density and other possible risk factors for age-related cataract or blood levels or adipose tissue concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and Vitamin E.

Conclusions:  Macular pigment is composed of lutein and zeaxanthin, the only carotenoids found in human lenses. The inverse relationship between lens optical density and macular pigment optical density suggests that lutein and zeaxanthin may retard aging of the lens.  (That is, when the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin were found in higher concentrations in the macula, the lens showed less evidence of clouding, with a lower lens optical density.)

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