Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The most important variable risk factor for developing glaucoma is intraocular hypertension. Timely lowering of high intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly lowers the likelihood of developing glaucoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the food supplement Mirtogenol (Mirtoselect and Pycnogenol on IOP and ocular blood flow in a product evaluation study.


METHODS
Thirty-eight asymptomatic subjects with intraocular hypertension were either given Mirtogenol (20 subjects) or were not treated (18 subjects). The visual acuity, IOP, and ocular blood flow were measured at two, three, and six months.


RESULTS
After two months of supplementation with Mirtogenol, the mean IOP decreased from a baseline of 25.2 mmHg to 22.2 mmHg. After three months of treatment with Mirtogenol, the IOP was significantly lowered compared to that of untreated controls (p<0.05) to 22.0 mmHg. No further improvement was found after six months. Nineteen of the twenty patients taking Mirtogenol had a decreased IOP after three months. Only marginal effects on the IOP were found in the 18 control subjects. No side effects were observed. Ocular blood flow (central retinal, ophthalmic, and posterior ciliary arteries) improved both in the systolic and diastolic components as measured by Color Doppler imaging. After three months of treatment, the improvement of ocular blood flow was significant as compared to both baseline and control group (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
An improved ocular blood flow may contribute to the prevention of glaucoma. The results of this study indicate that Mirtogenol may represent a safe preventative intervention for lowering the risk for developing symptomatic glaucoma by controlling IOP and improving ocular blood flow.
Steigerwalt
Robert D
RD
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, San Valentino, Italy.
Gianni
Belcaro
B
Paolo
Morazzoni
M
Bombardelli
Ezio
E
Burki
Carolina
C
Schönlau
Frank
F
D000328:Adult; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects
D005419:Flavonoids; C531578:mirtogenol