Supplementing with Vitamin B and Choline could potentially slow down the advancement of Glaucoma.
Eye disease known as glaucoma can cause harm to the optic nerve, potentially leading to blindness. With around 80 million individuals worldwide battling this condition, it's essential to find ways to slow its progression.
Previous research has shown that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet rich in specific nutrients, can reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B3, A, C, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin have been identified as potential protectors for the eyes.
Recently, a study published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine indicated that increasing levels of B vitamins (B6, B9 (folate), B12) and choline in a mouse model of glaucoma could help impede the disease's progression.
In this study, researchers focused on the amino acid homocysteine, which plays a vital role in protein synthesis. Excessive levels of homocysteine have been linked to health issues such as cardiovascular problems, cognitive decline, and an increase in stroke risk. High homocysteine levels can also indicate a deficiency in vitamin B.
Interestingly, the new study found that higher homocysteine levels did not exacerbate glaucoma in mice, and the rate at which the disease progressed was not correlated with homocysteine levels. This led the researchers to conclude that homocysteine is merely a bystander in the disease process instead of an active player.
With this finding in mind, the team decided to administer supplements of B vitamins and choline to the mouse model of glaucoma. In mice with a slow-developing form of the disease, optic nerve damage was completely stopped; in mice with a more aggressive form, the supplementation helped slow down the disease's progression. Crucially, no attempts were made to lower eye pressure throughout these experiments.
These promising results have motivated researchers to initiate a clinical trial involving human glaucoma patients. Although definitive evidence from human studies is still pending, this development could pave the way for alternative treatments to help save eyesight for those affected by glaucoma.
David I. Geffen, OD, FAAO, director of optometric and refractive services at Gordon Schanzlin New Vision in La Jolla, CA, commented, "Any new method of decreasing the damage from glaucoma is a welcome addition to our ability to save eyesight." He went on to express hope for longer-term studies with human patients and further investigations into other supplements that might also provide neuroprotection.
Benjamin Bert, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, also praised the study's findings, stating, "Anytime we make discoveries that show the potential to slow or prevent any damage from diseases like glaucoma is always a good thing." He emphasized the importance of continuing to investigate the underlying causes of glaucoma to develop new treatments and prevention strategies.
- Maintaining a diet rich in specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B3, A, C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, may help reduce the risk of developing glaucoma.
- A recent study in the journal Cell Reports Medicine suggested that increasing levels of B vitamins (B6, B9 (folate), B12) and choline could aid in slowing the progression of glaucoma.
- Researchers found that homocysteine, an amino acid linked to health issues like cardiovascular problems and stroke, did not exacerbate glaucoma but may be a bystander in the disease process.
- Supplements of B vitamins and choline administered to a mouse model of glaucoma led to the complete stoppage of optic nerve damage in mice with a slow-developing form of the disease, and slowed down the progression in mice with a more aggressive form.
- The findings from this study have prompted researchers to initiate a clinical trial involving human glaucoma patients, which could lead to alternative treatments for protecting eye health and potentially saving eyesight for those affected by glaucoma.
