Antioxidant vitamins, minerals and cataract: current opinion

The purpose of this review is to assess the most recent findings and literature on the effect of minerals and antioxidant vitamins in the prevention of development and progression of cataract.

To retrieve most recent and relevant articles for this review, an intense and thorough search was conducted in databases and journal articles. Experts in the field of study were also contacted to know what the current opinions were in their practice. The data retrieved were qualitatively analysed and synthesized in order to arrive with the most objective conclusions. The result on the use of single antioxidant supplement did not show any significant effect on the cataract. A combination of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins C and E may have a synergistic effect on cataract prevention; however, more studies need to be conducted to prove this.

There are still inconsistent results on the exact antioxidant and the required amount needed to prevent cataract. On the basis of the insufficient and inconsistent results of recent trials reviewed it is not clear that antioxidant vitamins and minerals nor that healthy diets prevent the development and progression of cataract.