Abstract
BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness among working-age people worldwide. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of a carotenoid supplementation on retinal thickness and macular function of patients with diabetes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG).MethodsA retrospective study of one hundred and twenty eyes of sixty patients age between 40 and 60 years with non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy who underwent OCT and mfERG and took vitamin supplements for a period of two years. Patients received a carotenoid supplement containing lutein (10 mg), zeaxanthin (2 mg) and meso-zeaxanthin (10 mg) once a day for two years. The thickness of the fovea was evaluated using OCT and the macular function was tested by mfERG.ResultsOCT showed an increase in the central foveal thickness and mfERG revealed increased retinal response density within the central 13° surrounding the fovea (rings 1 to 3) at two years after the onset of carotenoids supplement intake.ConclusionThe use of carotenoid supplements may be of benefit for improving visual function of type 2 diabetes patients. However, further study is needed to assess the treatment’s long-term efficacy.
Highlights
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness among working-age people worldwide
The data collected include best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) responses measured at baseline and after two years of carotenoid supplementation
The mean CFT in the right eye increased from 157.4 ± 13.7 μm at baseline to 162.8 ± 13.1 μm following carotenoid intake (p < 0.001)
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness among working-age people worldwide. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of a carotenoid supplementation on retinal thickness and macular function of patients with diabetes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness among working-age people worldwide. Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is one of the major complications of DR and the most common form of sight-threatening retinopathy in diabetes affecting more than 20 million people worldwide [2, 3]. Lutein and zeaxanthin intake has been reported to improve visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and macular oedema in patients with non-proliferative DR [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
