MONTPELLIER, France, March 2005 — Recently released results from a large French study indicate that amino acids and vitamins needed to maintain eye health could be missing in lower protein diets and may lead to development of cataracts, Archives of Ophthalmology reported in its February 2005 issue.

More than 2,200 people between ages 60 and 95 were included in final results of the Montpellier, France study, in which researchers noted that levels of essential amino acids and B vitamins could be lower in significant numbers of people who have cataracts.

Protein markers of plasma albumin and transthyretin were used in the analysis, which showed that low levels of transthyretin in particular can be associated with formation of the most common type of cataract (nuclear cataract) associated with aging processes that lead to clouding of the eye’s natural (crystalline) lens.