Vitamin C intake may help reduce..
By: Meg Westerheide
Article Summary
Vitamin C intake may help reduce the chance of cataracts
By: Yvette Brazier
Published by: Medical Nutrition Today
March 24, 2016
As people age, cataracts are a common side effect. It is considered the number one source of blindness throughout the world. Cataract is a medical condition where the eye lens becomes opaque, resulting in reduced eye site. A recent study done by Ophthalmology researched the effect of genetics versus the environment upon obtaining cataracts. In this study, there were one thousand pairs of female twins that had their intake of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E and then copper, manganese, and zinc along with other nutrients recorded. They then assessed each for the progression of cataracts. A surprising result unfolded: “Genetic factors were responsible for 35% of the difference in cataract progression, while environmental factors, such as diet, accounted for 65%...” (Brazier 2016) This study revealed that genetics actually plays less substantial impact than environmental. As they assessed the environmental impact, researchers realized the overwhelming impact of Vitamin C. “The 10-year assessment revealed a 33% lower risk of cataract progression in women whose diet was rich in foods containing vitamin C.” (Brazier 2016) It is believed that due to vitamin C’s antioxidant properties the oxidation process that causes cataracts is stopped. Finding this link between Vitamin C consumption may be the major big step in reducing cataracts.
Article Critque
The article Vitamin C intake may reduce the chance of cataracts is written by Yvette Brazier. Yvette is a qualified writer for Medical News Today. The Medical News Today is a leading health care cite that produces a plethora of articles that target audiences of both healthcare personnel and patients. The site provides credentials of its authors, updates regularly, and does not allow for editing. All of these factors make the website essentially, reliable. The author of this article, Yvette, has experience working with pharmacists, medical imagers, paramedics, and also teaches English focusing on the medical and pharmaceutical field. She has written several other highly credible articles for Medical News Today.
Yvette writes a reliable article by incorporating reports from a exceedingly credible scientific journal, without integrating misleading information. References for the information are provided and there are links that lead to other reliable information. The article displays findings of a scientific experiment that is based on scientific evidence. The collected data is from a particular portion of the population, one thousand female twins in the UK. They then looked at the impact of the progression of glaucoma when certain vitamins and minerals are consumed. The conclusion from this experiment is not misleading. The article uses key words and phrases, so there is no misunderstanding for readers. For example, here is a statement from the article that exemplifies this use: “The study only focused on consumption of vitamin C through foods and not through dietary supplements” (Brazier). Stating phrases like this, prevent potential misunderstanding.
The article Vitamin C intake may reduce the chance of cataracts is a reliable source; however, other articles should be constantly evaluated for credibility. This article was produced by a popular press; therefore, the author and the information had to be evaluated for reliability. The author had impressive credentials and incorporated information from a scientific journal of an experiment. This experiment was based on scientific reasoning and did not have misleading results. With all these factors, the article is valid and reliable.