Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2015; Vol. 72 (No. 9)
Age-related changes of vitamin C levels in aqueous humour
Authors:
Vladimir Čanadananović*†, Slobodanka Latinović‡, Sava Barišić*, Nikola Babić*†, Sandra Jovanović*†
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Background/Aim. Age-related cataract is a common disease
among senior population. Vitamin C is the most effective reducing
hydrosoluble antioxidant causing reduction in the levels of
free radicals in crystaline lens. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the age-related change of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
level in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract.
Methods. This prospective study included 74 patients, divided
into 3 age groups, with age-related cataract, underwent routine
phaco cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation. Aqueous
humor was aspirated from 74 eyes at the beginning of
phacoemulsification. The levels of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
in aqueous humor were determined with high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC). Results. The average age of patients
included in the study was 65 ± 9.85 years (54–87 years).
The level of vitamin C in aqueous humor was 152.78 ± 7.0125
μg/mL in the group A (50–59 years), 134.15 ± 5.1569 μg/mL in
the group B (60–69 years) and 106.51 ± 5.44 μg/mL in the
group C (over 70 years). Conclusion. The amount of vitamin C
in aqueous humor of patients with age-related cataract is decreasing
with age. There was a statistically significant change (p
< 0.001) of vitamin C aqueous concentration in the patients of
different age. This decrease could play a role in susceptibility to
cataract formation in older population.
