Oral Administration of Forskolin and Rutin Contributes to Reduce Intraocular Pressure and Improve PERG (Pattern Electroretinogram) Amplitude in Glaucomatous Patients - Abstract
Purpose: The goal of this study was the clinical evaluation of the neuroprotective properties of a dietary supplementation of forskolin, rutin and vitamins B1 and B2 on retinal ganglion cell activity. To this purpose, we focused both on IOP and the Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG). PERG is known to be significantly altered in glaucoma, and a decrease of PERG signal amplitude is an early sign of glaucoma progression.
Methods: 45 patients affected by POAG were evaluated in this study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A: 30 patients (60 eyes) with IOP compensated by
topical pharmacological treatment, and taking the neuroprotective food supplement. Group B: 15 patients (30 eyes) treated with hypotonizing drugs alone. IOP and PERG were evaluated in both groupsat enrolment (T0), and after 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 6 (T3) months.
Results: In group A, IOP significantly decreased from 15.6 mmHg (T0) to 14.6 (T1), 14.5 (T2) and 14.6 (T3) mmHg, while no differences were found in the control group B. As concerns PERG, while latency remained unchanged in both groups, we observed in group A – but not in group B – a progressive increase of amplitude from 3.4 µV (T0) to 3.6 (T1), 4.3 (T2), and 4.8 (T3) µV, achieving statistically significant differences at T2 and T3.
Conclusion: The results of the present clinical pilot study suggest a short-term neuroactive effect of the food supplement, as evidenced by the improvement of PERG amplitude in
treated, but not in control patients.