Supplementing with Vitamin B and Choline May Potentially Delay the Advancement of Glaucoma
Hey there! It's all about eye health, specifically this nasty disease called glaucoma that steals people's sight. Did you know around 80 million folks worldwide are living with this eye condition? There's no cure for glaucoma yet, but we can take measures to reduce the risk or slow its progression.
Researchers have been digging into various nutrients that might protect our eyes from glaucoma, like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B3, vitamin A, vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Guess what's new on the block? A study finds that B vitamins and choline might help lower the speed of glaucoma, according to a mouse model.
This study put the focus on homocysteine, an amino acid, which plays a crucial role in protein synthesis but usually leads to health issues when there's an excessive amount in the body. Previously, high homocysteine levels were linked to the development and progression of glaucoma, yet researchers are now saying this amino acid is more like a bystander in the disease process rather than a key player.
To further investigate this, researchers gave B vitamins, such as B6, B9 (folate), B12, and choline to mice with glaucoma. The results? In slower-developing mice, optic nerve damage was halted, and in more aggressive cases, the disease progression was slowed down.
The cool thing here is that eye pressure wasn't treated in these experiments. Glaucoma is usually associated with elevated eye pressure, so scientists believe that the vitamin supplementation might affect glaucoma in a different way than lowering eye pressure.
Can't wait to see what happens next! Researchers have begun clinical trials on humans, and findings could potentially revolutionize our ability to preserve eyesight. Here's hoping for a future where eyesight is less of a concern for those living with glaucoma!
If you're interested, grab a sneak peek into the world of glaucoma research, with more detail about the study, mechanisms involved, and the potential implications.
Sources:
- New Study Sheds Light on Nutritional Therapy and Glaucoma. (2021). Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/new-study-sheds-light-on-nutritional-therapy-and-glaucoma [Accessed 25 Apr. 2021].
- B Vitamins and Choline Supplementation Might Help Slow the Progression of Glaucoma, Mouse Model Suggests. (2021). AlphaGalileo. Available at: https://www.alphagalileo.org/en/284-185850-1.html [Accessed 25 Apr. 2021].
- Glaucoma supplements: all you need to know. (2021). Sight Savers. Available at: https://www.sightsavers.org/glaucoma-supplements/ [Accessed 25 Apr. 2021].
Enrichment Data:This latest research suggests that B vitamins (B6, B9, and B12) and choline may contribute to slowing the progression of glaucoma, as observed in a mouse model. The clinical trial, scheduled at S:t Eriks Eye Hospital in Stockholm, aims to further explore the potential benefits of these supplements on humans with primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The researchers speculate that the vitamin mix might affect glaucoma independently of lowering eye pressure, offering a new therapeutic approach beyond traditional methods for eye pressure management (new-study-sheds-light-on-nutritional-therapy-and-glaucoma, 2021; b-vitamins-and-choline-supplementation-might-help-slow-the-progression-of-glaucoma-mouse-model-suggests, 2021).
- Scientists are investigating the impact of B vitamins and choline supplements on the progression of glaucoma in humans, following promising results from a mouse model study.
- This research could potentially revolutionize our ability to preserve eyesight for individuals living with glaucoma, as the vitamin mix might offer a new therapeutic approach beyond traditional methods for eye pressure management.
- A clinical trial at S:t Eriks Eye Hospital in Stockholm is scheduled to explore the benefits of these supplements on humans with primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
- Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is currently incurable, but scientists believe that these supplements may help reduce the risk or slow its progression.
- Proper nutrition, including nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B3, A, C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall eye health and potentially preventing eye conditions such as glaucoma and other eye problems.
