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Vitamin A supplementation may slow loss of cone function in children with retinitis pigmentosa
Children with retinitis pigmentosa who took vitamin A supplementation experienced a slower rate of loss of cone function compared with patients who did not take vitamin A supplements.
“Based on this observational study, the authors recommend that a daily age-adjusted dose of vitamin A palmitate be considered for children with retinitis pigmentosa and normal liver function to slow the course of their disease,” Michael A. Sandberg, PhD, co-author of the study, told Healio.com/OSN.
A retrospective, nonrandomized comparison followed 55 children with retinitis pigmentosa who took vitamin A supplementation and 25 children with retinitis pigmentosa in a control group that did not receive supplementation. Patients in the supplementation group took an age-adjusted dose of vitamin A between 5,000 IU per day and 15,000 IU per day.
The supplementation group experienced a significantly slower exponential rate of cone electroretinogram amplitude decline at –6.9% per year compared with –13.2% per year in the non-supplementation group.
Mean visual acuity in the supplementation group increased by 1.5% per year compared with 0.1% per year in the non-supplementation group, but the difference was not statistically significant. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.