Published on GreenMedInfo (http://www.greenmedinfo.com)

A combination of nutrients improves age-related macular degeneration. [1]

GreenMedInfo Summary

Abstract Title:

Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year.

Abstract Source:

Abstract Author(s):

Vincenzo Parisi, Massimiliano Tedeschi, Geltrude Gallinaro, Monica Varano, Sandro Saviano, Stefano Piermarocchi,

Article Affiliation:

Fondazione G. B. Bietti-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Roma, Italy. vparisi@tin.it

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of short-term carotenoid and antioxidant supplementation on retinal function in nonadvanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven patients with nonadvanced AMD and visual acuity>or =0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 age-similar groups: 15 patients had oral supplementation of vitamin C (180 mg), vitamin E (30 mg), zinc (22.5 mg), copper (1 mg), lutein (10 mg), zeaxanthin (1 mg), and astaxanthin (4 mg) (AZYR SIFI, Catania, Italy) daily for 12 months (treated AMD [T-AMD] group; mean age, 69.4+/-4.31 years; 15 eyes); 12 patients had no dietary supplementation during the same period (nontreated AMD [NT-AMD] group; mean age, 69.7+/-6.23 years; 12 eyes). At baseline, they were compared with 15 age-similar healthy controls.

METHODS: Multifocal electroretinograms in response to 61 M-stimuli presented to the central 20 degrees of the visual field were assessed in pretreatment (baseline) conditions and, in nonadvanced AMD patients, after 6 and 12 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multifocal electroretinogram response amplitude densities (RAD, nanovolt/deg(2)) of the N1-P1 component of first-order binary kernels measured from 5 retinal eccentricity areas between the fovea and midperiphery: 0 degrees to 2.5 degrees (R1), 2.5 degrees to 5 degrees (R2), 5 degrees to 10 degrees (R3), 10 degrees to 15 degrees (R4), and 15 degrees to 20 degrees (R5).

RESULTS: At baseline, we observed highly significant reductions of N1-P1 RADs of R1 and R2 in T-AMD and NT-AMD patients when compared with healthy controls (1-way analysis of variance P<0.01). N1-P1 RADs of R3-R5 observed in T-AMD and NT-AMD were not significantly different (P>0.05) from controls. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in N1-P1 RADs of R1-R5 between T-AMD and NT-AMD at baseline. After 6 and 12 months of treatment, T-AMD eyes showed highly significant increases in N1-P1 RADs of R1 and R2 (P<0.01), whereas no significant (P>0.05) change was observed in N1-P1 RADs of R3-R5. No significant (P>0.05) changes were found in N1-P1 RADs of R1-R5 in NT-AMD eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: In nonadvanced AMD eyes, a selective dysfunction in the central retina (0 degrees -5 degrees ) can be improved by the supplementation with carotenoids and antioxidants. No functional changes are present in the more peripheral (5 degrees -20 degrees ) retinal areas.

Article Published Date : Feb 01, 2008

Study Type : Human Study

Additional Links

Substances : Astaxanthin : CK(448) : AC(165) [2]Carotenoids : CK(1796) : AC(356) [3]Vitamin C : CK(2484) : AC(569) [4]Vitamin E : CK(1881) : AC(335) [5]Zinc : CK(1031) : AC(154) [6]

Diseases : Macular Degeneration : CK(207) : AC(34) [7]

Pharmacological Actions : Antioxidants : CK(8430) : AC(3132) [8]

Source URL: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/combination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration

Links:
[1] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/combination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration
[2] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/astaxanthin
[3] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/carotenoids
[4] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/vitamin-c
[5] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/vitamin-e
[6] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/zinc
[7] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/disease/macular-degeneration
[8] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/pharmacological-action/antioxidants
[9] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/flag/flag/favorites/65019?destination=print%2Farticle%2Fcombination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration&amp;token=054e6e9198fbe8ac6f919354a2cb9e0a
[10] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/print/article/combination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration
[11] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/printmail/article/combination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration
[12] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/printpdf/article/combination-nutrients-improves-age-related-macular-degeneration

Click Here to Download or Print