Antioxidants Fight Photoreceptor Dysfunction

LUCKNOW, IndiaAntioxidants may play a role in supporting retinal membrane fluidity in patients with idiopathic retinal periphlebitis (J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. ePub 25 Oct 2010. DOI: 10.1089/jop.2010.0075). Researchers from CSM Medical University and Amity University aimed to study the effect of antioxidant supplementation on retinal membrane fluidity in healthy adults and subjects with the eye condition, known as Eales disease. The condition is most common in India, and is believed to be a primary, non-inflammatory disorder of the peripheral retinal vessels, which leads to vitreous hemorrhage and neovascularization in the periphery of the eye.

Researchers assayed thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and membrane fluidity in 15 cases and 12 healthy controls. Subjects with Eales disease received prednisolone (1 mg/kg) in a weekly tapering dose for six weeks and a combination antioxidant preparation daily for three months. The antioxidant formula included lutein (3.2 mg, containing 256 mcg of zeaxanthin), L-glutathione (5 mg), vitamin E (15 IU), vitamin C (150 mg), zinc (40 mg), copper (2 mg), selenium (40 mcg) and manganese (5 mg).

Cases had significantly higher TBARS levels and decreased membrane fluidity at baseline compared to controls. However, antioxidant supplementation led to a marked decrease (P=0.01) in TBARS levels and improved levels of platelet membrane fluidity (P=0.001). The researchers concluded the intervention significantly decreased oxidative stress and improved membrane fluidity, helping to prevent photoreceptor dysfunction in the retina.