Oral supplement significantly improves tear production, symptom severity in DED
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Key takeaways:
- Participants in the supplement group had better Schirmer’s test scores and improvement in OSDI scores vs. the placebo group at day 56.
- Scores for symptom severity and frequency also improved.
Once-daily consumption of a supplement of lutein, zeaxanthin isomers, curcumin and vitamin D3 improved tear production and reduced ocular surface damage, inflammation and patient-reported symptoms in dry eye disease, according to research.
“Tear replacement with over-the-counter ocular lubricants aims to replace or enhance the tear film and is considered the mainstay of DED treatment,” Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, founder of Integrative Vision Corp., and colleagues wrote in Frontiers in Ophthalmology. “There is increasing interest in oral nutritional supplementation for the management of several ophthalmic diseases, with growing evidence supporting this approach for DED; this is based on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of bioactive substances from food on DED pathophysiology and their potential for administration as nutraceuticals.”
In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Gioia and colleagues evaluated the safety and efficacy of a daily supplement of lutein, zeaxanthin isomers, curcumin and vitamin D3 (Blink NutriTears, Bausch + Lomb) in 155 adults aged 18 to 65 years with clinically diagnosed dry eye disease. Participants were assigned to receive one soft gel supplement capsule (n = 77) or placebo (n = 78) every day for 8 weeks.
The primary study endpoints, which were evaluated at days 14, 28 and 56, were change from baseline in Schirmer’s test and Ocular Surface Disease Index score, while secondary endpoints included tear film breakup time, Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and corneal and conjunctival staining.
According to study results, the supplement group demonstrated better Schirmer’s test results compared with the placebo group in both eyes at days 28 (P < .05) and 56 (P < .001), as well as improvement in total OSDI score by day 14 (P < .001), which continued through days 28 (P < .05) and 56 (P < .001).
Scores for OSDI symptoms and vision domains were also significantly better for the supplement group at days 14 (P < .05), 28 (P < .05) and 56 (P < .001), with a significant difference in scores for the OSDI environmental domain at day 56 (P < .001).
In addition, mean TBUT values were significantly improved in the supplement group by day 56, as were tear film osmolarity, corneal and conjunctival staining and inflammation (P < .001).
Researchers also reported significant improvement in total SPEED score by day 14 in the supplement group, which was maintained to days 28 and 56, with scores for frequency and severity domains demonstrating significant differences within the group and compared with placebo at all timepoints.
There was no difference between groups in artificial tear use throughout the study, and no serious adverse events were reported.
“These data suggest consumption of this new once-daily nutritional supplement may help restore tear film homeostasis by addressing the key root causes of dry eyes,” Gioia said in a related Bausch + Lomb press release. “This could represent a significant opportunity for consumers looking for options when it comes to long-lasting dry eye symptom relief.”
Reference:
- Bausch + Lomb announces statistically significant results from a clinical study of a novel daily nutritional supplement for dry eyes. https://www.bausch.com/news/?id=206. Published April 25, 2024. Accessed April 25, 2024.
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