Abstract
Purpose :
To analyse the anatomical and functional effects of oral administration of Curcuma Longa and Boswellia Serrata in patients with treatment naïve non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods :
In this case-control retrospective study, patients with treatment naïve non proliferative DR with a central macular thickness (CMT) < 400 um were enrolled and divided into two groups, one undergoing observation (Group A, n 12) and one receiving one sachet a day of Curcuma Longa and Boswellia Serrata (Group B, n 49). A complete ophthalmological examination including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CMT measurement by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline, one and six months. A mixed design ANOVA was calculated to determine whether the change in CMT and BCVA over time differed according to the assumption of the drug. The percentage of patients having systemic hypertension and dyslipidemia was also recorded.
Results :
Sixty-one (61) patients, 31 females (50.8%) and 30 males (49.2%) with a mean age of 64.2 (± 14.13) years old were enrolled. There were no statistically significant differences in the two groups regarding demographics, ocular (BCVA, CMT, pseudophakia) and systemic parameters (systemic hypertension and dyslipidemia) at baseline evaluation.
The interaction between time and treatment was significant, F (1.032,102.168) = 14.416; p<0.001, indicating that the change in terms of CMT and BCVA over time among groups was significantly different.
Conclusions :
Our results suggest the protective role of the oral administration of
Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata in patients with non-proliferative DR and treatment-naïve DME in maintaining baseline CMT and BCVA values over time. The association of the two substances could also be considered as an adjuvant therapy for patients with DME receiving intravitreal injections.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.