Association between Serum Vitamin C Levels and Nuclear Cataract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentration of vitamin C and nuclear cataracts in elderly Iranians.
The Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III was utilized to grade nuclear lens opacities. In order to evaluate plasma concentrations of vitamin C, fasting blood samples were taken from 410 cases and 410 control participants. The study population comprised 393 men and 427 women between the ages of 40 and 91 years. Subjects were classified in four categories according to their age: group I (40–50 years), group II (51–60 years), group III (61–70 years) and group IV (over 70 years). An enzyme-based assay in serum stabilized with metaphosphoric acid was used to measure serum vitamin C concentration.
Resutls: No significant association was observed between serum concentrations of vitamin C and nuclear cataract neither between cases and controls nor between different age categories within the case group.
Lack of association between nuclear cataract and vitamin C status may result from the fact that blood levels of this vitamin at one point in time do not adequately reflect the past activity of ascorbic acid in the lens.