British study links alcohol with lower risk of developing cataracts

[Northerner]

People who consume up to 14 units of alcohol a week have less chance of developing cataracts, especially if they drink red wine, a new British study has found.

Antioxidants found in wine could help explain why moderate drinkers are at up to 23% less risk of having to have cataract surgery than people who shun alcohol, the researchers believe.

Cataracts – cloudy patches that form in the lens of the eye – are a major cause of impaired eyesight and blindness, mainly in older people. Removing them in a short procedure is the commonest surgery carried out by the NHS, which performs about 450,000 such operations a year in England.

Academics from Moorfields eye hospital in London and University College London’s institute of ophthalmology studied the medical and lifestyle history of 492,549 participants in either the UK Biobank or Epic-Norfolk studies of people’s health over many decades.

British study links alcohol with lower risk of developing cataracts

Research finds lower risk among those who drink up to 14 units a week – especially if they drink red wine

www.theguardian.com

 

[chaoticcar]

I drink red wine and have cataracts ! Ah well there is always one ( and it's usually me )
Carol

 

[Ljc]

I drink red wine and have cataracts ! Ah well there is always one ( and it's usually me )
Carol

You and I obviously never drank enough lol.

 

[Amity Island]

Headline of article is at odds with the main text and I'd of thought similar benefits could be had from drinking red grape juice (without the poisonous alcohol).

"The authors stressed, though, that while there appeared to be a close association between moderate drinking and cataracts, they had not found a definite causal link".

"The NHS has identified drinking as one of the risk factors for cataracts, alongside smoking, diabetes and family history".


A contrary article can be found here in the same newspaper. The claims in this article are more believeable and responsible to me.

"There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption".​

There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption | Professor David Nutt

Professor David Nutt: The idea that drinking small amounts of alcohol will do you no harm is a myth

www.theguardian.com

 

[trophywench]

Just shows whatever you do it's wrong and in my case that isn't actually news, I do seem to come up against a lot of hard to please people all in all.

 

[Amity Island]

Just shows whatever you do it's wrong and in my case that isn't actually news, I do seem to come up against a lot of hard to please people all in all.

It's often the way. Watch any news interview, with opposing opinions, always leaves the veiwer none the wiser. They never show the grey areas in between the two extremes. Never present anything other than the opposing opinions.

 

[chaoticcar]

You and I obviously never drank enough lol.

so is it a choice between cataracts and my liver !😉
Carol

 

[Ljc]

so is it a choice between cataracts and my liver !😉
Carol

It’s not an easy choice is it.
Mind you I much prefer to look after my liver as cateracts can be dealt with

 

[chaoticcar]

It’s not an easy choice is it.
Mind you I much prefer to look after my liver as cateracts can be dealt with

definitely agree I like a glass of red wine ,but certainly don't like too many glasses of wine.
Carol

 

[trophywench]

definitely agree I like a glass of red wine ,but certainly don't like too many glasses of wine.
Carol

I'm definitely on the same page with you there - I drink to much and I either fall asleep and stay there or have been known to redecorate parts of our abode whilst incapable so better to only have enough to make everything enjoyable IMHO.

 

[mikeyB]

Makes no difference to me, my mother and older brother developed cataracts at more or less exactly the same age. It’s a family tradition. My older brother is the one without T1.

 

[nonethewiser]

People who consume up to 14 units of alcohol a week have less chance of developing cataracts, especially if they drink red wine, a new British study has found.

Not all bad then, another excuse to indulge.