September 2018
Stéphanie Romeo Villadóniga, Elena Rodríguez García, Olatz Sagastagoia Epelde, M. Dolores Álvarez Díaz, and Joan Carles Domingo Pedrol
Abstract
Purpose. To assess the effects of antioxidant oral supplementation based on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in pseudoexfoliative (PEX) glaucoma.
Patients and Methods. A prospective 6-month open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with PEX glaucoma and adequate intraocular pressure (IOP) control. Patients in the DHA group received a high-rich DHA (1 g) nutraceutical formulation. Ophthalmological examination, DHA erythrocyte membrane content (% total fatty acids), plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and plasma IL-6 levels were assessed.
Results. Forty-seven patients (DHA group 23, controls 24; mean age 70.3 years) were included. In the DHA group, the mean IOP in the right eye decreased from 14.7 [3.3] mmHg at baseline to 12.1 [1.5] mmHg at 6 months (). In the left eye, IOP decreased from 15.1 [3.3] mmHg at baseline to 12.2 [2.4] mmHg at 6 months (). DHA erythrocyte content increased in the DHA group, with significant differences versus controls at 3 months and 6 months (8.1% [0.9] vs. 4.4% [0.7]; ).
At 6 months and in the DHA group only, TAC levels as compared with baseline increased significantly (919.7 [117.9] vs. 856.9 [180.3] µM copper-reducing equivalents; ), and both MDA (4.4 [0.8] vs. 5.2 [1.1] nmol/mL; ) and IL-6 (2.8 [1.3] vs. 4.7 [2.3] pg/mL; ) levels were lower than in controls.
Conclusions. Targeting pathophysiology mechanisms of PEX glaucoma by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation with a high-rich DHA supplement might be an attractive therapeutic approach. Despite the short duration of treatment, decrease in IOP supports the clinical significance of DHA supplementation.
