Effects of Oral Supplementation with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)‎ plus Antioxidants in Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma: A 6-Month Open-Label Randomized Trial

Abstract EN

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 (P=0.01).

In the left eye, IOP decreased from 15.1 [3.3] mmHg at baseline to 12.2 [2.4] mmHg at 6 months (P=0.007).

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]; P<0.0001).

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; P=0.01), and both MDA (4.4 [0.8] vs.

5.2 [1.1] nmol/mL; P = 0.02) and IL-6 (2.8 [1.3] vs.

4.7 [2.3] pg/mL; P=0.006) 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.