Higher Cataract Risk for People with Celiac Disease

Many of the gluten-free flours have a much higher glycemic index than wheat flour. The higher blood glucose gets metabolized to increased amounts of sorbitol. Sorbitol is believed to contribute to cataract formation. And yes, there is such a thing as diabetic cataracts, precisely because of that.

It's great that Jefferson keeps us up on all the latest research! The thing I always wonder is whether these subjects are eating gluten free diets; and if so, how carefully?

Another influence on cataracts is the amount of animal products in the diet. When giving up gluten, it's tempting to slide into a sort of Atkins style diet, using animal products to replace wheat/gluten products. Meat, dairy, eggs etc are risk factors for developing cataracts.

According to another study recently published on cataracts, people eating a vegan diet (no animal products, only plant foods) had a much lower risk of cataracts compared to the general population.

We eat a gluten free, vegan diet. Although that might seem horrifyingly restricted at first glace, I can assure you from many years of personal experience, it offers a varied, nutritious and delicious culinary palate! It does take some thought but then, what healthy diet doesn't?!

I found this very interesting. I was diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of 53. At age 54 I was diagnosed with cataracts and have had the surgery.

In 1997 I had to have both eyes corrected, and the doctor couldn't believe how bad my cataracts were. I was 58 at the time. He said I eyes of an 80 year old. In 2001 I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I had epelseys also. I've been on a gluten-free diet now for ten years and haven't had a seizure in five years, in fact they had to lower my Dilante because I was falling all the time and my Dilanten level was really high. Six years ago I had to have colon cancer surgery resection, removing the cecum. I so much better now.

I would like to know what nutritional deficiencies were found, whether the subjects were on a gluten free diet, how long they were on the diet, and at what age they were diagnosed with celiac disease vs what age they were diagnosed with cataracts.

My daughter was tested positive thru biopsy for celiac in April 2011 (age 9) and within the last 6 months has developed a cataract.