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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Characterization of Molecular Mechanisms of In vivo UVR Induced Cataract
Published on: November 28, 2012
Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cataract in women
William G Christen1, Simin Liu, Debra A Schaumberg
1Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. wchristen@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Background:
Prospective data on cataract in relation to total fruit and vegetable intake are limited.
Objective:
We aimed to examine whether higher fruit and vegetable intake reduces the risk of cataract and cataract extraction in a large, prospective cohort of women.
Design:
Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline in 1993 among 39 876 female health professionals with the use of a validated, semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. A total of 35 724 of these women were free of a diagnosis of cataract at baseline and were followed for incident cataract and cataract extraction. Cataract was defined as an incident, age-related lens opacity responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse, based on self-report confirmed by medical record review. Individuals, rather than eyes, were the unit of analysis.
Results:
During an average of 10 y of follow-up, 2067 cataracts and 1315 cataract extractions were confirmed. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of fruit and vegetable intake, women with higher intakes had modest 10-15% reduced risks of cataract (P for trend < 0.05). For cataract extraction, no significant inverse trend was observed (P for trend = 0.12).
Conclusion:
These prospective data suggest that high intake of fruit and vegetables may have a modest protective effect on cataract.
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