The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-17
vITAMTNs AND CATARACT

VITAMINS AND CATARACT
 This is an explanation, apology and disavowal. Tn earlier talks about cataract I mentioned that there is some evidence to support the theory that certain vitamin de- ficiencies may be a contributing cause of cataract in some cases. The vitanin deficiencies to which I refer are deficiency of vitamin c (other- wise called B2 or ribohavin), vitamin c and vitamin A.
 I hope no one will misunderstood what I say about this. Certainly l do not know whether vitamins have anything to do with cataract in man. The only reason I mention the matter at all is this: Whether vitamins can do any good or not in such cases it Is at least certain that they can do no harm, and if I had cataract or the beginning of cataract myself I would not fail to supplement my diet with optimal daily rations of the three vitamins mentioned. Optimal daily rations means Q good deal more of the vitamins than we believe essential to prevent manifestation of defl- ciency disease. Generally it is ad- visable to take three or four times the daily amount of each vitamin required to pretent deficiency dis ease. We'll discuss this important health question in @ later article.
 All but two of group of 37 rates in the University of Arkansas la boratory of Dr. Paul L. Day devel- oped cataract on diet adequate in other respects but containing no ribofiavin (vitamin c, vitamin B2). Later Dr. Day observed similar de- velopment of cataract iii monkeys, mice and chicks kept on such feed, and further found that by adding some ribohavin to the feed 1t was possible to prevent development of cataract. Just what bearing this may have on cataract in man is, as already explained, unknown. AS Dr. Day himself expressed 1t: "A deficiency that results in such marked and irreparable damage to such a highly specialized tissue as the lens should not be considered lightly" To prevent misunderstand- ing let me repeat that this eXperi- mental evidence indicates merely that riboflavin (vitamin G or B3) may prevent development of catac- act. There is no evidence that 1t 1t will cure cataract.
 Individuals with cataract have less vitamin c (cevitamic acid, as- corbic acid) in their blood than nor nal persons. As one authority (Mc- Lester, Nutrition and Diet, Saund- ers) puts 1t: Cataract is apparently related to vitamin c deficiency, ale though the reports of animal ex- periments are somewhat conflicting. This vitamin is known to be present in the normal lens, and in view of the experimental evidence presented In the normal lens, and in view of the experimental evidence presented it seems reasonable to assume that deficinecy in this respect may so mipair the lens as to facilitate production of cataract by agents which otherwise gre harmless or perhaps 1t would be more accurate to say agents or causes which other. wise the eyes might withstand with out serious injury.
 As for vitamin A--and mean natural vitamin A, not carotene- nutrition authorities generally rec ognize that 1t preventc erophthal- mia (dry eyes), night blindness or difficulty in seeing against glare, and some cases of chronic score red eyes. There is no particular evid- ence that 1t prevents cataract.