High-Carb Diet May Promote Cataract

High-Carb Diet May Promote Cataract

BOSTON--High intake of carbohydrates maypromote cataract development, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) release highlighting new research conducted by researchers from theagency's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) division.

In the 14-year study conducted on a cohort of 417 women aged 53 to 73 yearsfrom the Nurses' Health Study, scientists found subjects whose averagecarbohydrate intake was between 200 and 268 g/d were 2.5 times more likely toget cortical cataracts than women whose intake was between 101 and 185 g/d. Therecommended dietary allowance for daily carbohydrate intake for adults andchildren is 130 g/d.

The researchers concluded these data suggest carbohydrate quantity, but notcarbohydrate quality, is associated with early cortical opacities, and thatneither the quantity nor the quality of dietary carbohydrate affects the risk ofnuclear opacities in middle-aged women.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition(81, 6:1411-1416, 2005).