Cataract and multivitamins

A recent trial called the Physicians' Health Study II (PHS II) has investigated whether multivitamin use would decrease the risk of cataract.

The study involved over fourteen thousand doctors aged 50 or more taking either a placebo or a multivitamin incorporating vitamin C, E and beta carotene. The onset and progression of both cataract and macular degeneration was followed. The preliminary findings were that long term vitamin intake will decrease the risk of cataract in middle aged men by 9 to 13%. The other surprising finding was that vitamin intake did not make any statistically significant difference to the onset of macular degeneration. The authors indicated that further study of the findings regarding macular degeneration was warranted.