Introduction: Cataract is vision-impairing disease marked by incremental, progressive lens thickening. The lens is composed of G-protein receptors that are linked to intracellular calcium release. Through the activation of calcium dependent proteases, elevated calcium levels can indicate metabolic disturbances and cell component disruption. The Na+-K+ ATPase pump’s activity in maintaining a low cytoplasm Ca2+ concentration increases calcium levels significantly, causing rapid lens fibre breakdown, uncontrolled protein breakdown, cell swelling, and opacification. Phosphorus is involved in membrane permeability of the lens.  The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare the serum calcium and phosphorus levels in males diagnosed with cataract and without cataract. Methodology: A total of 110 subjects were studied, of which 55 were diagnosed cataract patients and 55 were controls with no signs of cataract on ophthalmologic examination.  Serum calcium and phosphorus were estimated. The obtained data was analysed statistically. Independent t test was used to associate the parameters. Results: In our study we found significantly increased levels of serum calcium in cataract patients (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Serum phosphorus concentration in cataract patients (p<0.05) was significantly increased as compared to controls.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been linked with various factors and one of them is the amount of sodium intake by an individual. Spot urine examination is an accepted method of sodium estimation which is accurate, patient compliant and reliable. Hence, the study plans to assess the sodium intake by analyzing spot urinary sodium in normal, overweight, and obese individuals and also to compare and correlate urinary sodium with body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 individuals grouped into normal, overweight, and obese categories in an urban set up. The Kawasaki formula was used to estimate urinary sodium excretion per day. Comparison between the BMI, WHR, and sodium intake per day for all the categories were done using ANOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to find the correlation between the sodium intake per day, BMI and WHR. A P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Total sodium intake per day by obese individuals was 316.69 ± 170.86 (mEq/day) with the P = 0.0645 using Kawasaki formula. According to Kruskal–Wallis test, there was no statistical difference between values of sodium intake between normal, overweight, and obese categories (P > 0.05). However, significant positive correlation was noted between BMI and sodium intake (P < 0.05) and that of WHR and sodium intake (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sodium intake was positively correlated with the indices of obesity (BMI and WHR) and was found to be an independent risk factor for obesity.