Eyeworld

N Contact information Name: EWS by Title were randomized into different groups: 0 mg caffeine (n=10), 60 mg caffeine (n=10), 120 mg caffeine (n=10), and 180 mg caffeine (n=10). The time between coffee con- sumption and surgery was 144–191 minutes (2–3 hours). After cataract surgery with capsulorhexis, the lens cap- sule and lens epithelial cells were collected and sent to a lab for a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of caffeine concentration. Of the 80 eyes of 40 patients that were included, seven patients (14 eyes) were excluded due to protocol noncompliance. The results showed that coffee intake before cataract surgery increased the caffeine levels in the lens capsule in a dose dependent fashion. Past caffeine studies Past studies have examined the antioxidant effect of caffeine and its ability to inhibit oxidative damage. In one such study, caffeine was thought to be an important antioxidant, being a scavenger of free radicals. The study likened the general antioxidant ability of caffeine to that of the established biological antioxidant glutathione and sig- nificantly higher than ascorbic acid. 2 Another study from the literature demonstrated the protection factor (PF) of caffeine against UV radiation to be higher than the PF of both vitamin C and vitamin E. 3 "Up until now there has been some evidence that caf- feine or antioxidants might play a protective role for lens epithelial cells and a preventive role for cataract, however, no one has shown if caffeine can protect the lens and the lens capsule through peroral intake. Epidemiological findings show that caffeine has had a positive effect on the prevention of cataract blindness," Mr. Ruiss said. The incidence of cataract blindness in humans was significantly lower in groups consuming higher amounts of coffee in comparison to those groups with lower coffee intake, according to a study that credited both its anti- oxidant and bioenergetic effects on the lens. The study assessed per capita coffee consumption in kg/year as ob- tained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and from other sources. 4 The dietary total antioxidant capacity, including coffee, of middle-aged and elderly women was inversely associated with the risk of age-related cataract, according to yet anoth- er study on the subject. The Swedish population-based study found that coffee contributed 15% of total antioxidant capacity along with fruit and vegetables (44%) and whole grains (17%). 5 "Caffeine accumulates in the lens capsule and epithe- lial cells after oral intake of coffee, making it a potent candidate to delay the onset of cataract," Mr. Ruiss said. continued from page 24 Contact information Ruiss: office@viros.at

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