June 2013
Volume 54, Issue 15
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2013
EFFECT OF AN ANTIOXIDANT BLEND IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • SALVATORE FARO
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Teresio Avitabile
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Giulia Malaguarnera
    Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Franco Marco Livio
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Maurizio Uva
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • maria vittoria cicinelli
    NEST, Neurovisual Science Technology, Catania, Italy
  • Cristina Cassar Scalia
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Elena Lionetti
    Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • Caterina Gagliano
    NEST, Neurovisual Science Technology, Catania, Italy
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships SALVATORE FARO, None; Teresio Avitabile, None; Giulia Malaguarnera, None; Franco Marco Livio, None; Maurizio Uva, None; maria vittoria cicinelli, None; Cristina Cassar Scalia, None; Elena Lionetti, None; Caterina Gagliano, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2013, Vol.54, 1968. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      SALVATORE FARO, Teresio Avitabile, Giulia Malaguarnera, Franco Marco Livio, Maurizio Uva, maria vittoria cicinelli, Cristina Cassar Scalia, Elena Lionetti, Caterina Gagliano; EFFECT OF AN ANTIOXIDANT BLEND IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(15):1968.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of treatment with an antioxidant, vasoprotective and neuroprotective blend containing natural compounds on the progression of diabetic macular edema.

Methods: Sixty patients with diabetes type I and II with non-proliferative retinopathy and macular edema in early stage were enrolled. Twenty patients (group 1) were treated with acetazolamide 500 mg/die; twenty patients (group 2) were treated with an antioxidant blend containing extracts of red berries, Ginkgo Biloba and white willow bark together with carnosine and α-lipoic acid (two tablets/die). Group 3 (twenty patients: control group) did not assume any treatment. The observations were made at baseline, 1 and 3 months after enrollment. We measured central macular thickness with spectral OCT. Plasma levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also considered. Treatment doses: Group 1 took acetazolamide 500 mg/die; Group 2 took antioxidant blend: 2 capsules per day, one in the morning and 1 in the evening; Group 3 received no treatment beside the usual antidiabetic therapy.

Results: The level of plasma glucose and HbA1c were statistically lower in the group 2 (antioxidant blend) compared to acetazolamide and control groups (p <0.001) after one and two months of treatment. The foveal thickness was lower in the group 2 compared to the control group (p <0.001) at the first month of treatment and in both groups (antioxidant blend and acetazolamide) in the second month (p<0.001). On the contrary, control group foveal thickness at 90 days increased significantly ( p <0.05) compared to baseline (T0). Visual acuity improved at 90 days compared to T0 ( p <0.05) in group 2.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that treatment with an antioxidant blend containing extracts of red berries, Ginkgo Biloba and white willow bark together with carnosine and α-lipoic acid may blunt macular edema progression in the retina of diabetic patients.

Keywords: 585 macula/fovea • 499 diabetic retinopathy • 424 antioxidants  
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×