Antioxidants and cataracts
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Roche European American Cataract Trial (REACT) finds three-year daily use of antioxidant cocktail produces "small deceleration in progression of [age-related cataract]," Leo Chylack, MD, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, et al., report in November Ophthalmic Epidemiology. Partly funded by Hoffmann-La Roche and Roche Vitamins, trial included 297 American and British early ARC patients randomly dosed with placebo or combinations of 18 mg beta carotene, 750 mg vitamin C, 600 mg vitamin E. Cataract severity was documented using serial digital retroillumination imagery, progression was measured as "increase % pixels opaque." Findings follow recent research showing antioxidants and zinc reduce risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (1"The Tan Sheet" Oct. 15, p. 3)...