Australian researchers have found that a high salt content in food increases the likelihood of developing cataracts. Cataracts refer to the clouding of the eye's lens, which can lead to blindness if left untreated.
Dr. Robert G. Cumming and colleagues at the University of Sydney found that those with the highest sodium intake were twice as likely to develop posterior subcapsular cataracts, the type of cataract that most severely impairs vision. Their research report was published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
The researchers examined the eyes of about 3,000 adults aged 49 to 97 and asked the subjects to complete a questionnaire about their dietary frequency. 160 people had posterior subcapsular cataracts, and 970 had one of the other two types of cataracts, which were not associated with sodium intake.
The study also found that people with high salt intake may also suffer from other diseases that can easily lead to cataracts, such as diabetes or hypertension, and may have taken corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs.