Functional effect of Saffron supplementation and risk genotypes in early age-related macular degeneration: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether the functional effects of oral supplementation with Saffron, a natural compound that proved to be neuroprotective in early age-related macular degeneration, are influenced by complement factor H (CFH) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) risk genotypes.


METHODS
Thirty-three early AMD patients, screened for CFH (rs1061170) and ARMS2 (rs10490924) polymorphisms and receiving Saffron oral supplementation (20 mg/day) over an average period of treatment of 11 months (range, 6-12), were longitudinally evaluated by clinical examination and focal electroretinogram (fERG)-derived macular (18°) flicker sensitivity estimate. fERG amplitude and macular sensitivity, the reciprocal value of the estimated fERG amplitude threshold, were the main outcome measures.


RESULTS
After three months of supplementation, mean fERG amplitude and fERG sensitivity improved significantly when compared to baseline values (p < 0.01). These changes were stable throughout the follow-up period. No significant differences in clinical and fERG improvements were observed across different CFH or ARMS2 genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that the functional effect of Saffron supplementation in individual AMD patients is not related to the major risk genotypes of disease.
Dipartimento di Scienze Otorinolaringoiatriche e Oftalmologiche, Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Lgo F, Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy. dariomarangoni80@yahoo.it.
Dario
D
Marangoni
Benedetto
B
Falsini
Marco
M
Piccardi
Lucia
L
Ambrosio
Angelo Maria
AM
Minnella
Maria Cristina
MC
Savastano
Silvia
S
Bisti
Rita
R
Maccarone
Antonello
A
Fadda
Enrica
E
Mello
Paola
P
Concolino
Ettore
E
Capoluongo
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000235:genetics; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003710:Demography; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
C514392:ARMS2 protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D017242:Complement Factor H