| Recognition of the contribution of biological diversity to human health demands more scientifically sound evidence than currently exists, while the multifactorial nature of this relationship calls for innovative research frameworks. This thesis presents a multidisciplinary case study on the contribution of elements of biological diversity, namely wild and cultivated leafy vegetables, towards age-related cataract prevention in a rural developing country context. At the center of this thesis, an ethnobotanical study identified determinants of consumption of leafy vegetables and demonstrated how perceived properties and cultivation status significantly influence consumption patterns. Plant species of interest, analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, were found to exhibit high concentrations of lutein and beta-carotene. Drawing on ethnobotanical and analytical data, an eye hospital-based case-control study was conducted to compare leafy vegetable consumption and diversity, along with lutein and zeaxanthin intake, in female patients identified with and without age-related cataract. Conflicting results for associations between leafy vegetable species and age-related cataract, and protective associations for elements of traditional diets, including yogurt and tea, were observed. The integration of results across isolated studies in a multidisciplinary framework further reflected the complex biological, socio-economic and environmental components of eye health and leafy vegetable diversity, and highlighted new knowledge with important application in the eye health of population at risk. |
