Vitamin C and Cataract

STOCKHOLM, SwedenVitamin C supplements may be associated with higher risk of age-related cataract among women, according to Swedish researchers (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;DOI:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28528). Researchers examined whether 1,000 mg of vitamin C and multivitamins containing vitamin C (60 mg) were associated with the incidence of age-related cataract extraction in a population-based, prospective cohort of women.

During the 8.2 years of follow-up, there were 2,497 cataract extraction cases. The multivariable hazard ratio (HR) for vitamin C supplement users compared with that for nonusers was 1.25. The HR for the duration of more than 10 years of use before baseline was 1.46. The HR for the use of multivitamins containing vitamin C was 1.09. Among women aged 65 years, vitamin C supplement use increased the risk of cataract by 38 percent. Vitamin C use among hormone replacement therapy users compared with that among nonusers of supplements or of hormone replacement therapy was associated with a 56-percent increased risk of cataract. Vitamin C use among corticosteroid users compared with that among nonusers of supplements and corticosteroids was associated with an HR of 1.97.