title: Conjunctival and tear film changes after vitamin C and E administration in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of our research was to investigate the effect of supplementation with vitamin C and E on ocular surface cytology specimens and related parameters in diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were given vitamin C (1000 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) for 10 days. Conjunctival brush cytology specimens were obtained before and after treatment. Schirmer tests, break-up time and ocular ferning tests were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Goblet cell densities were 50 cells/per field before and 59 cells/per field after supplementation (p=0.002). The stage of squamous metaplasia was 1.12+/-0.42 before and 0.88+/-0.41 after supplementation (p=0.011). The changes were accompanied with improved values for the Schirmer test (p<0.001), break up time (p=0.001), and ocular ferning (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased oxidative stress. Our study suggests that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins C and E probably plays an important role in improving the ocular surface milieu.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tzaneion General Hospital of Piraeus, and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peponis
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonovas
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapranou
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peponi
authors.forename: Kalitsa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Filioussi
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magkou
authors.forename: Nikolaos M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Sitaras
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid