Hyperglycemia and Galactose Cataracts

Abstract

Rats fed diets containing increasing amts. of galactose develop a parallel increase in blood sugar, urine sugar, urine vol., water intake and food intake. The higher the galactose intake the less the rats gain in wt./wk. The time required for cataract formation bears an inverse relationship to hyperglycemia. This relationship may be described by a hyperbola which is similar to the curve which describes the development of diabetic cataracts. Galactose, however, appears to be approx. 4 times as effective as glucose in the production of cataracts. Lowering the blood sugar by the admn. of phlorizin delays the development of cataracts in pair-fed rats receiving 35% galactose.