Keeping Keen Eyesight with Vitamin C

By Shana Hopkins, MS, CN, WAC Nutritionist

Vitamin C is once again showing its strength in fighting disease. This time, vitamin C is proving to prevent early-onset cataracts. Cataracts occur when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy, most commonly occuring in the those over 75 years of age.

A new study published in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2002;75:540) collected data on women aged 53–73. They found that women under 60 with vitamin C intakes of 362mg or more per day had a 57 percent lower risk of developing cortical cataracts than those who consume less than 140mg of vitamin C per day. Those who took vitamin C supplements for 10 years or more reduced their risk of cataracts by 60 percent, compared with women who did not take the supplement.

All more reason to bolster your body with vitamin C-rich foods like peppers, papaya, cantaloupe, broccoli and strawberries as well as supplementing your diet with an extra 100–500mg of vitamin C per day.