Association between dietary fruit intake and age-related cataract: a meta-analysis

Background: There is no consensus on the association between dietary fruit intake and age-related cataract. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the relationship between dietary fruit intake and age-related cataract risk. Methods: We searched the PubMed and Web of knowledge to identify all studies that assessed the association between dietary fruit intake and age-related cataract risk through January 1, 2016. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with random-effect model were used to combine the results. Publication bias was estimated using Egger's regression asymmetry test. Results: Eight related articles met our selection criteria and contained a total of 6218 cases and 111093 participants. Our meta-analysis results revealed that highest level of dietary fruit intake could significantly reduce the age-related cataract (RR=0.80, 95% CI=0.68-0.93, P=0.005; I-2=47.5%, P-for (heterogeneity) = 0.064). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed that the association was only significant in European populations (RR=0.60, 95% CI=0.45-0.81), but not in the other populations else. Significant associations were also found in prospective studies and case-control studies. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed strong evidence that highest dietary fruit intake could reduce the risk of age-related cataract, especially in European populations.