‌Comparision of plasma vitamin C Level and nutritional behaviours in population with and without senile cataract

Abstract Background: Oxidative damage is considered as a major factor involved in senile cataract. Objective: To determine the relation between plasma vitamin C level & Nutritional behaviour and age- related cataract. Methods: This case - control study was implemented on 102 patients with cataract and 102 healthy volunteers attending the opthalmology clinics of Tabriz University of medical sciences both over 45 years old. The anthropometric measurement was carried out and a food frequency questionnaire was used. Personal information was also collected and capillary blood was drowning to determine plasma vitamin C with 2, 4- dinitrophenylhydrazine method by the UV detection spectrophotometry. Findings: Plasma vitamin C level and BMI in the patients were found to be significantly lower than the control (0.43 ×0.03 mg/dl, 23.18 ×0.9 kg/m 2 vs. 0.69 ×0.03 mg/dl, 26.10 ×0.8 kg/m 2 respectively) (PV< 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicated that the inadequacy of plasma vitamin C level can lead to cataract & the lack of enough information about nutritional value may paly an important role in this matter.