Assessing the Performance of Daily Intake of a Homotaurine, Carnosine, Forskolin, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, and Magnesium Based Food Supplement for the Maintenance of Visual Function in Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess whether a supplement containing Vitamin B6, among other components, could slow visual field progression and improve visual function in patients with progressive POAG.
Results Summary
The study found that the supplement, including Vitamin B6, slowed functional damage progression and improved visual function (e.g., light sensitivity, contrast sensitivity) and quality of life after 2 and 6 months of use.
Population
Patients with progressive primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), mean age 70.80 ± 8.77, with mean deviation (MD) between -2 dB and -15 dB and intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤18 mm Hg.
Effective Dosage
2 tablets/day for the first 2 months, then 1 tablet/day for the next 4 months (exact Vitamin B6 dosage not specified).
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | decrease | functional damage | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | slowed down the rate of progression | #1 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | increase | visual function | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | improved | #2 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | decrease | mean values of MD | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | MD = -5.37 ± -2.91 at T1, MD = -5.48 ± 3.15 at T2 compared to T0 (MD = -5.98 ± 2.83) | lessened | #3 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | decrease | IOP | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | significant reduction | #4 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | increase | light sensitivity | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | improved | #5 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | increase | contrast sensitivity | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | improved | #6 |
daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) | increase | quality of life | patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation | - | significant improvement | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy, which causes a continuous loss of retinal ganglion cells. Given the neurodegenerative nature of glaucoma, the necessity for neuroprotective intervention still arises, to be added alongside hypotonic therapy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of daily intake of a homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium based supplement (GANGLIOLIFE®) on the progression rates of the visual field in patients with progressive POAG despite good tonometric compensation and to assess the most suitable dosage. METHODS: This is a monocentric nonrandomized experimental clinical study. Patients with mean deviation (MD) ranging from -2 dB to -15 dB with MD progression ≥1 dB in the previous year and IOP values of ≤18 mm Hg were included. All the patients underwent supplement therapy for a period of 6 months. For the first 2 months, they took 2 tablets a day, and for the following 4 months, 1 tablet a day. The patients were assessed before the start of treatment, time 0 (T 0), after 2 months (T 1), and after 6 months (T 2) of therapy. At each check-up, patients were given a full eye test including perimetry, RNFL, and GCC using FD-OCT, PERG, contrast sensitivity, and QoL evaluation using the Glaucoma Symptom Scale questionnaire and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25. RESULTS: 31 patients with a mean age of 70.80 ± 8.77 were included. At T 1 and T 2, the mean values of MD were lessened (MD = -5.37 ± -2.91, P < 0.01, and MD = -5.48 ± 3.15, P < 0.05, respectively) compared to T 0 (MD = -5.98 ± 2.83). Patients also demonstrated a significant reduction in IOP (P < 0.01), improved light sensitivity (P < 0.01) and contrast sensitivity (P < 0.05), and a better quality of life (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with a supplement which includes homotaurine, carnosine, forskolin, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, folic acid, and magnesium has been shown to be able to slow down the rate of progression of functional damage and improve visual function after 2 and 6 months of daily intake. Quality of life showed significant improvement.