Association of blood antioxidants and vitamins with risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis of observational studies

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#antioxidants #asian-people #carotenoids #cataract #humans

Association of blood antioxidants and vitamins with risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Cui et al., 2013 | Am J Clin Nutr | Meta Analysis

Citation

Cui Yu-Hong, Jing Chun-Xia, Pan Hong-Wei. Association of blood antioxidants and vitamins with risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013-Sep;98(3):778-86. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.053835

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have been inconsistent regarding the association between blood antioxidants or vitamins and risk of age-related cataract. OBJECTIVE: We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether an association exists between blood levels of antioxidants or vitamins and age-related cataract in observational studies. DESIGN: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science for relevant studies from inception to October 2012. Study-specific risk estimates were combined by using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies with 18,999 participants were involved in this meta-analysis. A pooled estimate showed vitamin E (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.96), α-carotene (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.88), lutein (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.87), and zeaxanthin (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.82) were inversely associated with age-related cataract. Vitamins A (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.83) and C (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.78) were inversely associated with age-related cataract in Asian populations but not in Western populations. β-Carotene (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.05), lycopene (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.15), and β-cryptoxanthin (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.02) had no significant association with risk of cataract. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides additional evidence supporting the view that blood levels of certain antioxidants are inversely associated with risk of age-related cataract. However, the role of antioxidant or vitamin supplement intake in preventing cataract should be further investigated in interventional studies.

Key Findings

A total of 13 studies with 18,999 participants were involved in this meta-analysis. A pooled estimate showed vitamin E (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.96), α-carotene (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.88), lutein (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.87), and zeaxanthin (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.82) were inversely associated with age-related cataract. Vitamins A (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.83) and C (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.78) were inversely associated with age-related cataract in Asian populations but not in Weste

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 18999
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Asian People
  • Carotenoids
  • Cataract
  • Humans
  • Lutein
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamins
  • Xanthophylls
  • Zeaxanthins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: vitamin-e

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09