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. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.