Antioxidant-Rich Diet Linked to Lower Risk of Eye Diseases, finds study
A new study found that intake of antioxidants would reduce the risk of several eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The study compared data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) concluded that those with higher Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) scores had significantly reduced risks of having eye conditions. These results imply that a diet high in antioxidants could be responsible for preserving vision and preventing vision loss. The study was conducted by Jiechang Z. and colleagues published in the journal BMC Public Health.
An estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of visual impairment or blindness. Past studies have shown that antioxidants are protective for the eyes but not directly linked with the risk of eye disease. The CDAI combines six major antioxidants to yield a measure of overall dietary antioxidant consumption.
The research compared data from 1,706 adults aged 40 years and older who were involved in NHANES 2005–2008. Trained interviewers administered interviews to evaluate diet intake with a 24-hour diet recall procedure, and CDAI was computed with a validated method. Eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration were diagnosed by clinical exams and questionnaires of the participants. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for potential confounders including age, sex, smoking status, and comorbid health conditions.
Key Findings
Patients in the top CDAI quartile (Q4) had lower odds of:
Diabetic retinopathy (OR = 0.55, p= 0.041)
Cataracts (OR = 0.37, p< 0.001)
Glaucoma (OR = 0.48, p= 0.003)
Macular degeneration (OR = 0.19, p< 0.001)
Increased carotenoid consumption was associated with decreased odds of:
Diabetic retinopathy (OR = 0.57, p< 0.001)
Cataracts (OR = 0.75, p= 0.014)
Glaucoma (OR = 0.59, p< 0.001)
Macular degeneration (OR = 0.55, p< 0.001)
Zinc consumption (Q4 vs. Q1) was connected to a decreased risk of:
Diabetic retinopathy (OR = 0.32, p< 0.001)
Glaucoma (OR = 0.73, p= 0.001)
Increased vitamin C consumption (Q4 compared to Q1) was associated with lower odds of:
Cataracts (OR = 0.70, p= 0.001)
Glaucoma (OR = 0.71, p= 0.003)
Researchers concluded that higher CDAI values are strongly correlated with decreased risk of diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The current research supports the significance of an antioxidant-dense diet maintaining ocular health and vision-related diseases prevention. Such dietary associations can aid in the development of preventive measures and early intervention of ocular disease.
Reference:
Zhang J, Xiao L, Zhao X, Wang P, Yang C. Exploring the association between composite dietary antioxidant index and ocular diseases: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2025 Feb 14;25(1):625. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21867-5. PMID: 39953504; PMCID: PMC11829354.
