Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia are Associated with Cataract Development in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Research progress on the correlation between cataract occurrence and nutrition

Cataract is a common eye disease characterized by lens opacity, leading to blurred vision and progressive blindness of the eye. Factors affecting the development of cataracts include nutrition, oxidative stress, micronutrients and inflammatory factors, and also include genetics, toxicity, infrared exposure, hyperuricemia, and mechanical injuries. Among the nutritional factors, a balanced diet, vegetarian diet, dairy products and vegetables are protective against cataracts; high-sodium diet, high intake of carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase the risk of cataracts; and increased intake of proteins, especially animal proteins, may prevent nuclear cataracts. Intake of antioxidants such as β-carotene, lutein, or zeaxanthin is associated with a reduced risk of cataracts. Minerals such as zinc, selenium, calcium and sodium have also been associated with cataract development. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of cataracts and is associated with several antioxidative enzymes and biomarkers such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Insulin resistance is also an essential risk factor for cataracts, especially in diabetic patients. In conclusion, understanding these influencing factors helps us to better prevent cataracts. And in this article, we will focus on the important factor of diet and nutrition for a detailed discussion.

Association between cataract and fatty liver diseases from a nationwide cross-sectional study in South Korea

This study examined the link between fatty liver disease (FLD) and cataracts, as previous research has suggested that FLD may contribute to metabolic syndrome, systemic inflammation, and potentially cataracts. We studied a nationwide cross-sectional cohort of the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011. FLD was defined as nonalcoholic FLD (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated FLD (MAFLD). Multinomial logistic regression was utilized to investigate the relationship between cataracts and FLD after adjustment for potential confounders. Participants with cataracts had higher liver fibrosis scores, including the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS; P < 0.001), fibrosis-4 index (FIB4; P < 0.001), and fatty liver index (FLI; P = 0.001). NAFLD was not associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) for cataracts in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.23, P = 0.058). MAFLD was significantly associated with a higher OR (OR = 1.34, P = 0.006). After adjusting for all factors, the severity of FLD was linked to an increased risk of cataracts, with significant linear trends (P values for linear trends of NFS, FIB4, and FLI < 0.05). After adjusting for well-known cataract risk factors, MAFLD was significantly associated with cataracts. Our analysis suggests that FLD may serve as an independent risk factor for cataracts.

Could Duodenal Molecular Mechanisms be Involved in the Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Silicon Used as Functional Ingredient in Late-Stage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

SCOPE

Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially in the late-stage. Consumption of bioactive compounds as functional ingredients would help achieve therapeutic goals for cholesterolemia. Silicon has demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect and the ability to reduce fat digestion. However, it is unclear whether silicon exerts such effect in late-stage T2DM (LD) and the intestinal mechanisms involved.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Three groups of eight rats were included: early-stage T2DM control (ED), LD, and the LD group treated with silicon (LD-Si) once the rats were diabetic. Morphological alterations of the duodenal mucosa, and levels of markers involve in cholesterol absorption and excretion, beside cholesterolemia, and fecal excretion were assayed. Silicon included as a functional ingredient significantly reduces cholesterolemia in part due to: 1) reducing cholesterol intestinal absorption by decreasing the absorptive area and Acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase-2 (ACAT2) levels; and 2) increasing cholesterol excretion to the lumen by induction of the liver X receptor (LXR) and consequent increase of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter (ABCG5/8).

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide insight into the intestinal molecular mechanisms by which silicon reduces cholesterolemia and highlights the efficacy of the consumption of silicon-enriched functional foods in late-stage T2DM.

[Prevalence and detection rate of senile cataract in individuals with cardiovascular diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of senile cataracts and its detection rate among the population at the age of 40 and older with diseases of the cardiovascular system.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This observational cross-sectional study was based on the information extracted from electronic health records (EHR) of patients aged 40-99 years assigned for medical services to a city polyclinic.

RESULTS

Among the population with essential hypertension (EH) senile cataract occurs with the frequency of 10.4±0.3% (95% CI 9.8-10.9%) of cases, in patients with cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) - 17.1±0.2% (95% CI 16.6-17.5%) of cases, with varicose veins of the lower extremities - 19.9±0.2% (95% CI 19.4-20.3%) of cases, with ischemic heart disease (IHD) - 15.8±0.2% (95% CI 15.4-16.2%) of cases. At the same time, senile cataract is associated with an increase in the likelihood of its detection in patients with hypertension by 6.8 times (OR 6.57; 95% CI 5.89-7.74), with CVD by 5 times (OR 5.02; 95% CI 4.64-5.44), with varicose veins by 3.7 times (OR 3.70; 95% CI 3.34-4.10), with IHD by 3.5 times (OR 3.53; 95% CI 3.20-3.90). Female gender is associated with an increased likelihood of developing senile cataracts in the presence of EH by 1.4 times (OR 1.420; 95% CI 1.299-1.553), in the presence of CVD by 1.2 times (OR 1.199; 95% CI 1.066-1.348), in the presence of varicose veins by 1.4 times (OR 1.355; 95% CI 1.064-1.725), in the presence of IHD by 1.5 times (OR 1.476; 95% CI 1.298-1.679). The detection rate of senile cataract is highest at the ages of 70-79 years, amounting to 18.1% of cases with hypertension, 24.0% of cases with CVD, 29.2% of cases with varicose veins, and 33.7% of cases with ischemic heart disease.

CONCLUSION

Target population groups have been identified for more effective screening studies in order to detect senile cataracts among them.