|
Niacin protects against glaucoma
A relatively high intake of vitamin B3 may reduce the risk of glaucoma. This is suggested by a small meta-study published in Nutrients.
Study
Romanian epidemiologists, affiliated with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, traced two previously published scientific studies in which researchers had looked at the intake of vitamin B3 through food on the one hand and the risk of glaucoma on the other.
Glaucoma is of condition in which the pressure in the eyeball becomes too high, causing damage to the nerves in the eye. The field of view therefore decreases.
Vitamin B3 is a precursor of the energy molecule NAD. Animal studies suggest that relatively high NAD levels protect nerves and therefore reduce the damage caused to the eye by glaucoma. [Redox Biol. 2021;43:101988.] [Science 2017;355:756-60.] [Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2023;45:7097-109.]
Results
In both studies, participants who consumed a relatively large amount of vitamin B3 were less likely to develop glaucoma. Participants with an intake of more than 29 milligrams per day had a 52-43 percent lower risk than participants with an intake of less than 21-15 milligrams per day.
Click on the table below for a larger version.
According to American guidelines, an adult needs 16-18 milligrams of vitamin B3 daily. The European guidelines do not deviate much from this.
If you want to get an idea of the likelihood that your vitamin B3 intake is high enough to lower your risk of glaucoma, click here.
Conclusion
Although molecular ophthalmologists already speculate about the use of vitamin B3 analogues as supportive treatment of glaucoma, [J Glaucoma. 2017 Dec;26(12):1161-8.] the Romanians are still cautious in their conclusions. "Large sample, standardized randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the potential benefits of niacin in glaucoma," the Romanians write.
Source:
Nutrients 2024, 16, 3604.
More:
Combination of Mirtogenol and latanoprost drastically decreases interocular pressure 10.06.2024
Mirtogenol, a supplement against glaucoma 08.06.2024
Archives:
Vitamin B
Vitamins
|
