title: Two-year randomized, placebo-controlled study of black currant anthocyanins on visual field in glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of the black currant anthocyanins (BCACs) on the disease progression of open-angle glaucoma (OAG), a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial was made in 38 patients with OAG treated by antiglaucoma drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  BCACs (50 mg/day, n = 19) or their placebos (n = 19) were orally administered once daily for a 24-month period. Systemic blood pressure, pulse rates, intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular blood circulation by laser-speckle flowgraphy, and Humphrey visual field mean deviation (MD) were measured during the 24-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a main outcome measurement, we evaluated the difference between the groups in MD deterioration in the eye with a better MD from the trial's baseline through 24 months. A statistically significant difference was observed between the treatment groups in mean change from baseline in MD 24 months after therapy (p = 0.039, unpaired t test). Upon administration of BCACs, the ocular blood flows during the 24-month observational period increased in comparison with placebo-treated patients. However, no significant changes were observed in systemic and ocular conditions including IOP during the 24-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that oral administration of BCACs may be a safe and promising supplement for patients with OAG in addition to antiglaucoma medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. ooguro @ sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohguro
authors.forename: Ikuyo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohguro
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katai
authors.forename: Sachie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002214:Capsules; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D031965:Ribes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002214:Capsules; D010936:Plant Extracts