Effects of Micronutrients on Serum Antioxidant Status of Glaucoma Patients: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-masked Pilot Study

Aims: Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease, which is associated with progressive optic neurodegeneration and concomitant visual field defects. Besides an elevated intraocular pressure, recent studies have suggested that other risk factors such as oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of oral micronutrients on the antioxidant status in glaucoma patients.

Study Design: randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked pilot study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmological Clinic Oculus Parter-Bucharest, Romania, between March 2007 and February 2008.

Methodology: This study was conducted with 40 glaucoma patients receiving either oral supplementation of micronutrients containing 150 mg α-lipoic acid, 36 mg vitamin E, 70 mg vitamin C, 3.6 mg vitamin B1, 5 µg vitamin B12, and 100 mg bilberry extract (Ocuvite® Glaukom) or placebo tablets for a duration of six months. Effects of oral micronutrients on uric acid, ascorbic acid, and tocopherol serum concentrations were investigated in a subgroup of 25 patients. The safety of the supplementation was assessed in 40 patients.

Results: Supplementation with oral micronutrients for six months showed a minor increase of antioxidant serum levels without statistical significance (uric acid: P = 0.14; ascorbic acid: P = 0.11; tocopherol: P = 0.32). Safety data were satisfactory.

Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences between both treatment groups, which may be explained by the short study period and the small sample size. Further extensive studies are required to verify the hypothesis that oral supplementation of micronutrients may influence the antioxidant status in glaucoma patients.