A study published in the journal Ophthalmology found a diet of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C can help prevent cataracts regardless of genetic predisposition, as reported by Medical Daily.
A team of researchers from King's College in London recruited approximately 1,000 pairs of female twins from the U.K. Twins registry. Each participant was about 60 years old when they filled out a detailed food questionnaire that measured their day-to-day nutrient intake.
Here are five points:
1. The participants who regularly ate vitamin C and roughly two servings of fruit and vegetables each day were 20 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those who ate a less nutritious diet.
2. Ten years later, researchers followed up with 324 of the twin pairs and found those who had originally reported eating more vitamin C in their diet were now at a 33 percent lower risk of developing cataracts compared to those who had eaten less vitamin C.
3. The participants who reaped the greatest protective benefits had been steadily eating at least twice the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables, which is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men.
4. Researchers found no beneficial effect from supplements.
5. Researchers believe the study results indicate that genetic factors account for roughly 35 percent of the risk for cataract progression, while environmental factors like diet make up roughly 65 percent of the risk.