Three nutrients may help to prevent cataracts

Boston-According to a study by Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, published in the January edition of the Archives of Ophthalmology, the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E may help prevent cataracts.

Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn. Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, almonds, sunflower seeds, leafy green veggies, and fortified cereals.

The study included 35,000 middle-aged U.S. women who were followed for 10 years, on average. By the end of the study, the group had 2,031 new cases of cataracts.

Factors that did not affect the results included age, smoking, and health status. The women were not asked to change their diets as a direct test of cataract prevention.