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High glycaemic diet linked with cataract risk

People who eat lots of high glycaemic index foods may be increasing their risk of developing a cataract — a clouding of the lens of the eye.

High glycaemic diet linked with cataract risk

People who eat lots of high glycaemic index foods may be increasing their risk of developing a cataract — a clouding of the lens of the eye — the leading cause of blindness in the world. Glycaemic index (GI) refers to how rapidly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High-GI foods, such as white bread and potatoes, tend to spur a quick surge in blood sugar, while low-GI foods, such as lentils, soybeans, yoghurt and many high-fibre grains, create a more gradual increase in blood sugar. Although the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in the diet are thought to play a role in cataract formation, few epidemiological studies have examined the link between dietary carbohydrates and cataract. Researchers from the Westmead Hospital, New South Wales examined the association between dietary carbohydrates and the occurrence of cataract in 933 Australians who were at least 49 years of age at the outset and were followed for up to 10 years. After accounting for age, gender, diabetes and other factors that might influence the results, each standard deviation increase in dietary GI was associated with a 19 per cent increase in the risk of cataract. People with the highest GI diets were 77 per cent more likely to develop a cataract than people with the lowest GI diets. As carbohydrates represent the main dietary component, and cataract entails such a significant health and economic burden, further studies are warranted to confirm the role dietary carbohydrates play in cataract development.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
November 2007
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