title: Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, San Valentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steigerwalt
authors.forename: Belcaro
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gianni
authors.forename: Morazzoni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paolo
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bombardelli
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burki
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schönlau
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; C531578:mirtogenol