Vitamin E Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin E, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, antioxidants.

Reversal of reciprocity failure for UVR-induced cataract with vitamin E.

Ayala MN, Söderberg PG

Eye Department, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. marcelo.ayala@ste.ki.se

PURPOSE: The authors have previously described that the photochemical reciprocity law does not apply for ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced cataract. The aim of this study was to elucidate if failure of the reciprocity reverses with vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) administration. METHODS: Altogether, 80 rats were divided into one group fed alpha-tocopherol and one control group. For each group, half of rats were exposed to UVR for 5 min and the remaining rats for 15 min. RESULTS: Lenses exposed to UVR for 5 min showed no difference in light scattering between alpha-tocopherol-treated and untreated groups. Lenses exposed to UVR for 15 min showed significant difference in light scattering between alpha-tocopherol-treated and untreated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Failure in exposure time-intensity reciprocity for UVR-induced cataract with exposures shorter than 30 min may be due to consumption of antioxidants in the lens.

Published 22 July 2005 in Ophthalmic Res, 37(3): 150-5.
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