Vitamin E can protect against ultraviolet radiation-induced cataract in albino rats.

PURPOSE

To investigate if vitamin E protects against ultraviolet B radiation (UVB)-induced cataract.

METHODS

Albino Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: one group was fed vitamin E, while the other group was used as a control. Both groups were exposed to UVB. The rats were sacrificed, lenses extracted, forward light scattering was measured, and vitamin E and glutathione (GSH) contents were determined.

RESULTS

Lenses in the vitamin E group developed slight opacities, while lenses in the control group developed nuclear cataracts. Forward light scattering in lenses of the control group was higher than in lenses in the vitamin-E-supplemented group. Vitamin E and GSH concentrations were higher in lenses treated with vitamin E than in the untreated group.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin E protects the lens against UVB-induced cataract. Vitamin E protects directly as an antioxidant and/or indirectly through increased levels of GSH.