Vitamin E (1991, 1993, 2008, 2015) - Cataracts

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1991 Several studies connected significantly lower risk of developing cataracts along with oxidative stress in the eye tissue with higher vitamin E intake. The risk factor was about 40-45% less risk of developing the condition.

Study1: J.M. Robertson, et al, A possible role for vitamins C and E in cataract prevention, American Journal Clinical Nutrition, 1991

Study2: M.C. Leske MC, et al, The lens opacities case control study: risk factors for cataract. Archives of Ophthalmology, 1991

1993 Another study reported the same results. Researchers found that when levels of vitamin E were lower in blood plasma, the risk of developing both cortical and nuclear cataracts was about two times as great. Higher levels of vitamin E were associated with less likelihood of developing cataracts. Cortical cataracts involve the cortex of the lens, the outside edge of the lens while nuclear cataracts, the most common type of cataract, involve changes to the center of the lens.

Researchers: Vitale, et al.

Published: Epidemiology, May, 1993

2008 A very large 2008 study of over 35,000 American middle-aged women consisted of a 10 year survey of their dietary supplements and incidence of cataract. This study again found that vitamin E played an important role in preventing cataracts, but also that women who had more lutein, and zeaxanthin in their diet along with vitamin E were even less likely (18%) to develop cataracts.

Researchers: W. Christen

Published: Dietary carotenoids, vitamins C and E, and risk of cataract in women: a prospective study, Archives of Ophthalmology, January 2008

2015 A meta-analysis (a study of studies) looked at the ties between cataract development and vitamin E as researched in studies conducted up to 2014.

The studies that they looked at included samples of people of all ages, not only elderly patients and thus this meta analysis was not restricted to age related cataracts.

They found that levels of vitamin E in the diet, taken via supplemental vitamin E, and levels of vitamin E in the bloodstream were tied to lower risk of cataract in percentages that were statistically significant. As the levels of vitamin E dropped, the incidence of cataract increased.

Researchers: Y. Zhang, W. Jiang, Z. Xie, W. Wu, D. Zhang

Published: Vitamin E and risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis, Public Health Nutrition, October, 2015.