Almost all of us have taken vitamins at some time in order to supplement
our diets and meet the daily recommended requirement. From time to time, there
have been instances where large doses of vitamins are suggested- even higher
than the daily recommended dose. This has raised a question as to whether
vitamins affect your risk of developing cataracts – are they good, bad, or
indifferent for the development of cataracts.
 |
Dr. Keegan Johnson, M.D. |
Research on High Dose Vitamin Supplements & Risk of Cataracts
Researchers
reporting in the American
Journal of Epidemiology evaluated the risks and benefits of taking high dose supplements
of vitamins C and E and low-dose multivitamins with the risk of developing age related
cataract. Their study looked at any
associations of high-dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low dose
multivitamins with the risk of age related cataract in a group of 31,120 men
who ranged in age from 45–79 years of age. Their results suggest that the use of high dose-but not low
dose-single vitamin C or E supplements may increase the risk of age-related
cataract. The risk may be even higher among older men, corticosteroid
users, and long-term users.
If you or someone you know takes high doses of vitamins
or is concerned about their risk of cataracts please
call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver
to schedule an
appointment.
Center for Sight is conveniently
located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts
02720 for patients
from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
