Vitamin Supplements May Slow Down the Progression of Glaucoma

Often referred to as the ‘silent thief’ of sight, the term glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that develop as a result of elevated intraocular pressure inside the eye. This increased pressure damages the optic nerve and can cause vision loss. Published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, this latest study found that a supplement containing vitamins B6, B12, folate, and choline had a protective effect on the optic nerve in animal models of glaucoma. In mice with a slower form of the disease, the optic nerve damage was halted, while in rats with more aggressive glaucoma, its progression was slowed.

The study challenges the previously held belief that the molecule homocysteine plays a causal role in glaucoma. Although glaucoma patients often have elevated homocysteine levels, the researchers found no link between these levels and disease progression. They concluded that altered homocysteine is likely a consequence of disrupted retinal metabolism, rather than a driver of the disease.

Based on their findings, the researchers hypothesized that supplementing with specific vitamins might protect retinal cells from damage. Encouraged by their animal study results, they have initiated a clinical trial involving human glaucoma patients at the St. Erik Eye Hospital in Stockholm. If successful, this research could offer a novel treatment strategy for protecting vision in glaucoma.

To read how a clinical trial led by Australian scientists has shown that vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) could play an important role in protecting against the nerve cell damage that leads to blindness in glaucoma, see this news story on our website.

To learn more about the benefits of micronutrients for healthy eyes, see this article on our website.