Beneficial effects of systemic administration of black currant anthocyanins on glaucomatous optic neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled double-masked trial

Hiroshi Ohguro

Purpose: To investigate the effects of anthocyanins (ACs) in black currant (BC) on glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON), a randomized placebo-controlled double-masked trial was performed.

Methods: Thirty eight patients with GON, who were treated by anti-glaucoma drops and deterioration of their mean deviation (MD) was less than 0.5dB/year, were included in this study. In a randomized and double-masked manner, ACs extracted from BC (BCACs) in capsule forms (50 mg/day) (n=19) or its placebo (n=19) were administrated daily for a 24-month period. Systemic blood pressures, pulse rates, intraocular pressures (IOPs), blood circulation by a laser speckle flow meter at the optic nerve head (ONH), neuroretinal rim of the ONH and its peripapillary retina, and Humphrey visual field parameters; MD and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were measured during the 24-month period.

Results: Inter-group or between the two groups, no significant changes were observed in systemic blood pressures, pulse rates, and IOPs during the 24-month period. Upon administration of BCACs, the blood flows of ONH, its rims and surrounding retina were increased, and deterioration of MD during the 24-month observational period was significant less as compared with placebo-treated patients (P=0.05, unpaired t-test).

Conclusion: Present our results suggest that oral administration of BCACs might be a safe and promising supplement for the purpose of neuroprotection for patients with GON.