title: The influence of vitamins and trace element supplements on the stability of the pre-corneal tear film.
abstract: The tear stability af 60 normal healthy subjects was measured and repeated 10 days later. Using a double-blind protocol, during the interim period 2/3 of the subjects (the treatment groups) took a commercially available daily dietary supplement and the remaining 1/3 acted as controls. The recommended daily dose was applied to the treatment groups. 20 of the treatment group took a daily dietary supplement of a mixture consisting of vitamins (e.g. A, B1, B2, B6, E) and trace elements (e.g. calcium iron, manganese), the other 20 took purely vitamin C tablets. The tear stability of both treated groups increased, however, the multi-vitamin and trace element group demonstrated the more consistent and individually predictable improvement. Within this group, the characteristics of the regression line correlating the initial mean (x) and final mean (y) tear stabilities were, y = 5.94 + 1.02x. The tear stability of the control group individuals did not significantly change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vision Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, U.K.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plaskow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins