Vitamin B Could Slow Glaucoma Progression, Study Reveals

A recent study suggests that a common vitamin supplement might help slow the progression of glaucoma, a degenerative eye disease. This vitamin B, which is found in foods like whole grains, dark leafy vegetables—kale and broccoli, for instance—eggs, fish, and dairy, seems to lessen the damage caused by the condition.

Glaucoma affects around 700,000 individuals in the UK. It’s caused by issues in the eye’s drainage system, leading to a build-up of fluid and increased pressure on the optic nerve. The condition is particularly common among older adults and those with a family history of it. If not treated, glaucoma can result in blurred vision or even blindness.

Typically, the condition is managed by lowering the eye pressure through methods like eye drops, surgery, or laser treatment. During the research, scientists provided supplements of vitamins B6, B9, and B12 to rats and mice diagnosed with glaucoma.

For rats with a more severe version of the disease, the supplements appeared to slow down damage to the optic nerve. In the case of mice experiencing a slower form of glaucoma, the damage was completely stopped.

Researchers speculate that the elevated pressure in the eye might alter the retina’s capability to utilize essential vitamins for maintaining good vision.

Dr. James Tribble from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, which conducted the study, remarked on the promising results, stating that they have already initiated a clinical trial with patients being recruited.

This research follows a 2019 study that indicated vitamin B3 could potentially prevent glaucoma. At The Jackson Laboratory in Maine, scientists found that mice genetically predisposed to the condition, when given water containing B3, maintained healthier eyes compared to those receiving regular water.