RT Journal
A1 Christen WG, Glynn RJ, Sesso HD, et al
T1 AGe-related cataract in a randomized trial of vitamins e and c in men
JF Archives of Ophthalmology
JO Archives of Ophthalmology
YR 2010
FD November 8
VO 128
IS 11
SP 1397
OP 1405
DO 10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.266
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.266
AB Objective 
    To test whether supplementation with alternate-day vitamin E or daily vitamin C affects the incidence of age-related cataract in a large cohort of men.Methods 
    In a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial, 11 545 apparently healthy US male physicians 50 years or older without a diagnosis of cataract at baseline were randomly assigned to receive 400 IU of vitamin E or placebo on alternate days and 500 mg of vitamin C or placebo daily.Main Outcome Measure 
    Incident cataract responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse based on self-report confirmed by medical record review.Application to Clinical Practice 
    Long-term use of vitamin E and C supplements has no appreciable effect on cataract.Results 
    After 8 years of treatment and follow-up, 1174 incident cataracts were confirmed. There were 579 cataracts in the vitamin E–treated group and 595 in the vitamin E placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.11). For vitamin C, there were 593 cataracts in the treated group and 581 in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.14).Conclusion 
    Long-term alternate-day use of 400 IU of vitamin E and daily use of 500 mg of vitamin C had no notable beneficial or harmful effect on the risk of cataract.Trial Registration 
    clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00270647