Olmedilla1,4 B; Granado1 F; Blanco1 C; Herrero1 I; Vaquero2 M; Millan3 I.
(1) Seccion de Nutricion (Unidad de Vitaminas)
(2) Servicio de Oftalmologia.
(3) Departamento de Bioestadistica. Clinica Puerta de Hierro. San Martin de Porres, 28035-Madrid (Spain).
(4) Corresponding author: E-mail: bolmedilla@hpth.insalud.es

Background: Cataract is an important health problem that increase with age, causes decreased visual acuity and constitute a major cause of disability in the elderly. Epidemiological studies have shown that elevated serum levels and / or intake of several antioxidants, such as carotenoids, vitamin E and ascorbic acid, are associated with a diminished risk for cataracts.
Objective: To assess the serum fat-soluble antioxidant status in patients with cataracts and its relationship with visual function.
Methods: One hundred thirty eight patients with senile cataracts, classified according to visual acuity, and 110 age and sex-matched controls were studied for individual carotenoids and tocopherols in serum by a quality-controlled HPLC method. One-way ANOVA analysis and logistic regression analysis were applied.
Results: Higher serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were associated as risk factors for cataract while b-cryptoxanthin and g-tocopherol appeared as protective variables. Higher levels of zeaxanthin and lower concentrations of b-cryptoxanthin were associated with cataracts in people < 61y whereas only lower levels of g-tocopherol were shown in subjects >61y. No significant correlations (adjusted for sex and age) were found between visual acuity and serum concentrations of carotenoids or tocopherols. Conclusion: Although the relation between carotenoids and cataracts is biologically plausible, serum carotenoid levels are highly dependent on dietary intake and thus may not be clinically relevant biomakers for cataracts risk.