Foods rich in antioxidants may lower the risk of cataracts in women, according to a study MSN reported.

Swedish researchers found that women with the highest intake of antioxidants had a lower risk of developing the common medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively cloudy.

"Oxidative damage of the eye lens caused by free radicals has been suggested to be crucial in development of cataract," Susanne Rautiainen of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden told MSN

Foods high in antioxidants include coffee, tea, oranges, red wine and whole grains.

Researchers looked at the diets of more than 30,000 over the age of 49 for about seven years for signs of developing cataracts. Based on total antioxidant consumption, the researchers divided the women into five groups, ranging from the greatest antioxidant intake to the least.

They found that those who consumed the highest total intake of antioxidants had about a 13 percent lower risk of developing cataracts than those who consumed the least, MSN reported. Among those who ate the most antioxidants, 745 cases of cataract were recorded, compared to 953 cases among women with the lowest antioxidant consumption

"The results are not that surprising," William Christen of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston told MSN.

Christen, who was not involved with the study, said the findings are in line with previous research suggesting antioxidants may help protect against cataracts, but the study has limitations, he

"The women participants simply reported on a questionnaire the food choices they made over the past year," Christen said. "As an observational study, there is always concern that women who choose healthier diets may also differ in other important ways, like body weight, smoking habits, aspects of the diet other than antioxidants, that may be more directly related to cataract risk."

Unlike previous studies that have focused on individual antioxidants and have "reported inconsistent results," Rautiainen said researchers used a measure of total antioxidant values in foods, which "takes into account how the nutrients work together."

Rautiainen said she suspects the results would be similar among men and in other countries.

Colorful fruits and vegetables are the best source of antioxidants.