Abstract
Purpose: Colostrum has been proposed to treat severe dryness and problematic eye lesions showing a beneficial effect. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of 2-fucosyl-lactose, a natural sugar present in the human colostrum, in an experimental dry eye.Methods: Dry eye was induced in adult male New Zealand albino rabbits by topical administration of 1% atropine. Tear volume (Schirmer’s test), tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal staining and tear osmolarity were assessed. Fucosyl-lactose eye drops was instilled at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and, 1%).Results: After 24 h from first atropine administration, tear volume and TBUT values were significantly improved in groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose in a dose-dependent manner. Tear volume increased from 5.25 to 10.75 mm and TBUT values from 8.75 to 34.5 s with 0.01% or 1% 2-fucosyl-lactose treatment, respectively. No changes were observed in terms of corneal staining among the all groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose. Atropine instillation caused an increase of tear osmolarity (428 mOsm/L), which was reversed by topical treatment with 2-fucosyl-lactose at all doses.Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that 2-fucosyl-lactose, a human milk oligosaccharide, has protective effect on tear film stability.
Highlights
Dry eye disease, known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a multifactorial disorder of the tears and ocular surface
The pathogenesis of dry eye disease is not fully understood; Fucosyl-Lactose and Dry Eye it is recognized that hyperosmolarity could affect the surface tension and the stability of the tear film
Based on the above evidences, we focused our attention to 2fucosyl-lactose, a constituent of colostrum, assessing the effect of this sugar on tear film stability in an experimental dry eye model
Summary
Known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a multifactorial disorder of the tears and ocular surface. Common symptoms of dry eye disease include dryness, irritation, foreign body sensation, light sensitivity, and itching. It is estimated that almost 5 million Americans 50 years and older have dry eye disease, and millions more experience episodic symptoms of dry eye; of these, approximately two-thirds are women (Smith et al, 2007). The pathogenesis of dry eye disease is not fully understood; Fucosyl-Lactose and Dry Eye it is recognized that hyperosmolarity could affect the surface tension and the stability of the tear film. Hyperosmolarity environment could contribute to trigger an inflammatory process; it is noteworthy that inflammation has a prominent role in the development and amplification of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
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