Traditional Indian food products have potential to slow down cataract, says Hyderabad-based NIN researchers

The study titled as ‘Mitigation of Lens Opacification by a functional food in a diabetic rodent model’, published in the journal Chemico-Biological Interactions (February, 2024), indicated that natural food products exerted multiple actions including antioxidant, which reduce the risk of chronic diseases and anti-inflammatory

Hyderabad: Traditional food products including haldi (turmeric), kaali mirch (black pepper), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Adrak (Ginger) and Menthee (fenugreek), which have been an integral part of the Indian kitchen and cuisine for ages, have the potential to slow down cataract maturation among diabetics, according scientists from Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

The NIN researchers in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funded- study, while acknowledging the need for further and more exhaustive research on the subject among patients, pointed out that their study supports the continued development of natural food products as therapeutic leads in the treatment and prevention of diabetic cataract.

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The study titled as ‘Mitigation of Lens Opacification by a functional food in a diabetic rodent model’, published in the journal Chemico-Biological Interactions (February, 2024), indicated that natural food products exerted multiple actions including antioxidant, which reduce the risk of chronic diseases and anti-inflammatory.

The study indicated that including natural food products in diet displayed AR inhibition effect, which is beneficial in treatment of prostate cancers and antigylcation, beneficial in preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and neurodegenerative ailments.

As all six ingredients i.e. amla, turmeric (haldi) , black pepper (kaali mirch), cinnamon (dalchini), ginger and fenugreek (menthee) are regularly consumed, readily available, and relatively inexpensive, one can conjecture that such a formulation could decrease the economic burden associated with the impacts of diabetic cataracts, the NIN study pointed out.

Compared to other patients, individuals with diabetes are more prone to cataract. Studies have indicated that diabetics are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop cataract. The incidence of progression of cataract among diabetics is higher. It is estimated that up to 20 percent of all cataract surgeries are performed in diabetic patients.

“There have been studies that have reported that compared to non-diabetic patients, cataract surgery in diabetics may lead to relatively rapid progression of diabetic retinopathy and ultimately cause vision loss. Hence, there is a need for a safer intervention strategy to prevent cataracts in people with diabetes,” the study added.