Consuming fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C has a protective effect on the onset of cataracts in 60 and 70 years. A study of twins has shown this.
Adding a few oranges to your daily diet, nothing more is needed to reduce the risk of cataracts which increases with age. According to a study carried out at King’s College London (United Kingdom) and published in Ophthalmology, people who eat a balanced diet rich in vitamin C are less prone to cataracts after age 60. To reach these conclusions, the researchers relied on data from a cohort of 324 pairs of twins followed over ten years.
The 1st surgery in France
The authors analyzed photos of the participants’ lenses early on, and ten years later. By comparing their diets and vitamin C intakes, they concluded on the usefulness of its regular intake in preventing cataracts. The fluid that surrounds the lens is rich in vitamin C, which prevents it from oxidizing with age and becoming cloudy, characteristic of cataracts.
“The results of this study could have a significant impact, because they suggest that a simple modification of the diet could protect against cataracts,” said Prof. Chris Hammond, ophthalmic surgeon and lead author of the article. We cannot avoid aging, but a more balanced diet should reduce the risk of cataract surgery. “
It is a real public health problem. In France in 2012, almost 717,000 surgeries were performed at a cost of 1.3 billion euros. The number of operations is on the rise, and it is the most common surgical operation.
Orange, kiwi, peppers
Globally, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness with 18 million people affected (according to the WHO), especially in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to surgery is low. It results in a decrease in visual acuity, discomfort in the light and the appearance of a veil in front of the eyes.
The intake in the diet could therefore represent a simple prevention system. Oranges, kiwis, blackcurrants, peppers… There is a wide variety of vegetables and especially fruits that are rich in vitamin C. The authors also note that the benefits were not as important by the intake of food supplements. They also add that their study could not rule out the fact that other elements related to a healthy diet could be responsible for these results.
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