Vitamin supplements delay the progression of glaucoma

A recent study published in Cell Reports Medicine suggests that a specific combination of vitamin supplements may help slow the progression of glaucoma by improving retinal metabolism. Researchers at Karolinska Institute examined the role of homocysteine, a metabolic compound, in glaucoma. While previously suspected to contribute to the disease, their findings indicate homocysteine is not a cause but rather a byproduct of glaucoma-related metabolic changes. Notably, they observed that affected retinas struggled to process key vitamins efficiently, leading to reduced local metabolism. To counter this, they tested supplements containing vitamins B6, B9, B12, and choline on mice and rats with glaucoma. The supplements halted optic nerve damage in mice with mild disease and slowed it in rats with more severe progression. These effects occurred without altering eye pressure, suggesting a novel treatment pathway. Encouraged by these promising results, the team has launched a clinical trial at St. Erik’s Eye Hospital in Stockholm to test the approach in human patients.

13-05-2025