Hair and Serum Trace Element and Mineral Levels in Patients with Age-Related Cataract

The study assessed hair and serum trace element levels in 121 adults, including 61 with age-related cataracts and 60 healthy controls. It found that patients with cataracts had significantly lower levels of manganese, selenium, vanadium, and zinc in their serum compared to controls, with zinc also being lower in hair samples. Serum selenium and zinc levels were significantly associated with cataracts after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and other comorbidities. The findings suggest that low serum zinc and selenium levels are independently linked to an increased risk of cataracts.