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Potential Effects of Nutraceuticals in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Jessica K W Tsang1, Susanne A Wolf2, Inga M Pompoes2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Nutritional supplements, or nutraceuticals, offer a novel, non-invasive approach to managing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). These supplements protect retinal vasculature and may prevent childhood blindness without the side effects of current treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness, driven by hypoxia and abnormal retinal neovascularization.
- Hypoxia in ROP disrupts the retinal vascular network, impairing oxygen supply, causing oxidative stress, and affecting photoreceptor function.
- Current ROP treatments are invasive and can lead to long-term complications in infants, including neurodevelopmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss the potential benefits of nutraceuticals in the prevention and management of retinopathy of prematurity.
- To explore nutraceuticals as a novel, non-invasive therapeutic strategy for ROP.
- To highlight how nutritional supplements can support retinal vasculature and energy supply in affected newborns.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing in vitro and in vivo studies on nutraceuticals for ROP.
- Analysis of the mechanisms by which nutraceuticals protect retinal vasculature.
- Discussion of the comparative advantages of nutraceuticals over conventional ROP treatments.
Main Results:
- Nutraceuticals have demonstrated protective effects on retinal vasculature in various studies.
- These supplements can help restore energy supply to the developing retina.
- Investigated nutraceuticals show promise in managing ROP without invasive procedures or developmental side effects.
Conclusions:
- Nutraceuticals represent a promising, non-invasive strategy for ROP prevention and management.
- By protecting retinal vasculature and supporting metabolic needs, nutraceuticals may reduce the incidence and severity of ROP.
- Further research into nutraceutical interventions could offer a safer alternative for affected newborns, mitigating risks associated with traditional therapies.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the most common cause of childhood blindness, is a hypoxia-induced eye disease characterized by retinal neovascularization. In the normal retina, a well-organized vascular network provides oxygen and nutrients as energy sources to maintain a normal visual function; however, it is disrupted when pathological angiogenesis is induced in ROP patients. Under hypoxia, inadequate oxygen and energy supply lead to oxidative stress and stimulate neovasculature formation as well as affecting the function of photoreceptors. In order to meet the metabolic needs in the developing retina, protection against abnormal vascular formation is one way to manage ROP. Although current treatments provide beneficial effects in reducing the severity of ROP, these invasive therapies may also induce life-long consequences such as systemic structural and functional complications as well as neurodevelopment disruption in the developing infants. Nutritional supplements for the newborns are a novel concept for restoring energy supply by protecting the retinal vasculature and may lead to better ROP management. Nutraceuticals are provided in a non-invasive manner without the developmental side effects associated with current treatments. These nutraceuticals have been investigated through various in vitro and in vivo methods and are indicated to protect retinal vasculature. Here, we reviewed and discussed how the use of these nutraceuticals may be beneficial in ROP prevention and management.
