TY - JOUR
T1 - Dietary Intervention With a Targeted Micronutrient Formulation Reduces the Visual Discomfort Associated With Vitreous Degeneration
AU - Ankamah, Emmanuel
AU - Green-Gomez, Marina
AU - Roche, Warren
AU - Ng, Eugene
AU - Welge-Lüßen, Ulrich
AU - Kaercher, Thomas
AU - Nolan, John M
N1 - Funding Information:
Funded by Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and ebiga-VISION GmbH through a WIT PhD Co-Fund Scholarship (WD_2017_43). There is a royalty agreement in place between ebiga-VISION GmbH and WIT based on the intellectual property and the patent submitted as part of the study. EA and JMN are listed as inventors on the patent application which is pending, and cannot disclose any conflict of interest at this point in time.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors.
PY - 2021/10/4
Y1 - 2021/10/4
N2 - PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of supplementation with a targeted micronutrient formulation on the visual discomfort associated with vitreous degeneration.METHODS: In this clinical trial, 61 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters were randomized to consume daily, the active supplement consisting of 125 mg L-lysine, 40 mg vitamin C, 26.3 mg Vitis vinifera extract, 5 mg zinc, and 100 mg Citrus aurantium or placebo for 6 months. Change in visual discomfort from floaters, assessed with the Floater Disturbance Questionnaire, was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, letter contrast sensitivity, photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive and negative contrast polarity, and quantitative vitreous opacity areas.RESULTS: After supplementation, the active group reported a significant decrease in their visual discomfort from floaters (P < 0.001), whereas the placebo group had no significant change in their visual discomfort (P = 0.416). At 6 months, there was a significant decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group (P < 0.001) and an insignificant increase in vitreous opacity areas in the placebo group (P = 0.081). Also, there was a significant improvement in photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive contrast polarity in the active group after supplementation (P = 0.047).CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate improvements in vision-related quality of life and visual function of patients suffering from vitreous floaters after supplementation with a formulation of antioxidative and antiglycation micronutrients. Notably, these improvements were confirmed by the decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group.TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: This targeted dietary intervention should be considered to support patients with symptomatic vitreous degeneration.
AB - PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of supplementation with a targeted micronutrient formulation on the visual discomfort associated with vitreous degeneration.METHODS: In this clinical trial, 61 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters were randomized to consume daily, the active supplement consisting of 125 mg L-lysine, 40 mg vitamin C, 26.3 mg Vitis vinifera extract, 5 mg zinc, and 100 mg Citrus aurantium or placebo for 6 months. Change in visual discomfort from floaters, assessed with the Floater Disturbance Questionnaire, was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, letter contrast sensitivity, photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive and negative contrast polarity, and quantitative vitreous opacity areas.RESULTS: After supplementation, the active group reported a significant decrease in their visual discomfort from floaters (P < 0.001), whereas the placebo group had no significant change in their visual discomfort (P = 0.416). At 6 months, there was a significant decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group (P < 0.001) and an insignificant increase in vitreous opacity areas in the placebo group (P = 0.081). Also, there was a significant improvement in photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive contrast polarity in the active group after supplementation (P = 0.047).CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate improvements in vision-related quality of life and visual function of patients suffering from vitreous floaters after supplementation with a formulation of antioxidative and antiglycation micronutrients. Notably, these improvements were confirmed by the decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group.TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: This targeted dietary intervention should be considered to support patients with symptomatic vitreous degeneration.
KW - Humans
KW - Micronutrients
KW - Quality of Life
KW - Vision Disorders/drug therapy
KW - Visual Acuity
KW - Vitreous Body
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/tvst.10.12.19
U2 - 10.1167/tvst.10.12.19
DO - 10.1167/tvst.10.12.19
M3 - Article
C2 - 34647961
AN - SCOPUS:85117808995
VL - 10
SP - 19
JO - Translational Vision Science and Technology
JF - Translational Vision Science and Technology
IS - 12
M1 - 19
ER -