Posters

The potential role of nutrition on lens pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Poster Details

First Author: O.Sideri GREECE

Co Author(s): K. Tsaousis   A. Mataftsi   I. Tsinopoulos              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to present new evidence between a diet rich in antioxidants and prevention of cataract, based on the latest observational studies findings. The micronutrients examined were Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin). All 3 types of cataract have been taken under consideration (nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular).

Setting:

We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT), ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), Grey Literature and hand-searched relevant reference lists.

Methods:

Case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies were included in the review. Two independent authors selected the included studies, extracted data and assessed their quality. Assessment was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Results were pooled for cataract incidence for all types of cataract and independently for nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract. Sensitivity analysis was not performed.

Results:

Twenty-five studies were included in the qualitative and 24 in the quantitative part of the study with 295,821 participants over 30 years old. Results from pooled analysis showed a protective effect of antioxidants on cataract, but not all of them were statistically significant. For Vitamin C OR=0.88, 95% CI [0.81, 0.97], for Vitamin E OR=0.84, 95% CI [0.70, 1.01], for Vitamin A OR=0.90, 95% CI [0.80, 1.00], for alpha-carotene OR=0.92, 95% CI [0.85, 1.00], for beta-carotene OR=0.89, 95% CI [0.83, 0.95], for lutein and zeaxanthin OR=0.92, 95% CI [0.85, 0.99].

Conclusions:

The present study managed to show that certain micronutrients could possibly play a protective role on lens opacification, but data in the field are inadequate. More trials, especially interventional, are needed to confirm the hypothesis. Lastly, more studies are needed to examine any adverse effects, as well as the doses at which these micronutrients exert their protective or adverse effect.

Financial Disclosure:

None