There are conflicting reports on the effectiveness of nutritional antioxidants in preventing or slowing the growth of age related cataracts, despite extensive laboratory evidence suggesting that oxidative damage to lens epithelial cells is a common underlying etiologic factor in cataractogenesis. One reported review of nine clinical trials involving over 117,000 patients suggested that beta-carotene, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C had no effect in preventing or slowing the progression of age-related cataract. Conversely, a randomized trial of over 14,000 US male physicians indicated that long-term daily multivitamin use modestly and significantly decreased the risk of cataract.