Effects of Macuprev® Supplementation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Double-Blind Randomized Morpho-Functional Study Along 6 Months of Follow-Up

Unlocking the Potential: Quercetin and Its Natural Derivatives as Promising Therapeutics for Sepsis

Sepsis is a syndrome of organ dysfunction caused by an uncontrolled inflammatory response, which can seriously endanger life. Currently, there is still a shortage of specific therapeutic drugs. Quercetin and its natural derivatives have received a lot of attention recently for their potential in treating sepsis. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary of the recent research progress on quercetin and its derivatives, with a focus on their specific mechanisms of antioxidation and anti-inflammation. To obtain the necessary information, we conducted a search in the PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases using the keywords sepsis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-infection, quercetin, and its natural derivatives to identify relevant research from 6315 articles published in the last five years. At present, quercetin and its 11 derivatives have been intensively studied. They primarily exert their antioxidation and anti-inflammation effects through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, and MAPK pathways. The feasibility of these compounds in experimental models and clinical application were also discussed. In conclusion, quercetin and its natural derivatives have good application potential in the treatment of sepsis.

A narrative review on dietary components and patterns and age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most prevalent eye diseases among the ageing population worldwide. It is a leading cause of blindness in individuals over 55, particularly in industrialised Western countries. The prevalence of AMD increases with age, and genetic factors and environmental influences are believed to contribute to its development. Among the environmental factors, diet plays a significant role in AMD. This review explores the association between dietary components, dietary patterns and AMD. Various nutrients, non-nutrient substances and dietary models that have the potential to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation, which are underlying mechanisms of AMD, are discussed. Consuming fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood, whole grains, olive oil, nuts and low-glycaemic-index foods has been highlighted as beneficial for reducing the risk of AMD. Adhering to the Mediterranean diet, which encompasses these elements, can be recommended as a dietary pattern for AMD. Furthermore, the modulation of the gut microbiota through dietary interventions and probiotics has shown promise in managing AMD.

Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative condition of the back of the eye that occurs in people over the age of 50 years. Antioxidants may prevent cellular damage in the retina by reacting with free radicals that are produced in the process of light absorption. Higher dietary levels of antioxidant vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of progression of AMD. This is the third update of the review.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements on the progression of AMD in people with AMD.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, one other database, and three trials registers, most recently on 29 November 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared antioxidant vitamin or mineral supplementation to placebo or no intervention, in people with AMD.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methods expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 26 studies conducted in the USA, Europe, China, and Australia. These studies enroled 11,952 people aged 65 to 75 years and included slightly more women (on average 56% women). We judged the studies that contributed data to the review to be at low or unclear risk of bias. Thirteen studies compared multivitamins with control in people with early and intermediate AMD. Most evidence came from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) in the USA. People taking antioxidant vitamins were less likely to progress to late AMD (odds ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58 to 0.90; 3 studies, 2445 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). In people with early AMD, who are at low risk of progression, this means there would be approximately four fewer cases of progression to late AMD for every 1000 people taking vitamins (one fewer to six fewer cases). In people with intermediate AMD at higher risk of progression, this corresponds to approximately 78 fewer cases of progression for every 1000 people taking vitamins (26 fewer to 126 fewer). AREDS also provided evidence of a lower risk of progression for both neovascular AMD (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.82; moderate-certainty evidence) and geographic atrophy (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.10; moderate-certainty evidence), and a lower risk of losing 3 or more lines of visual acuity (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.96; moderate-certainty evidence). Low-certainty evidence from one study of 110 people suggested higher quality of life scores (measured with the Visual Function Questionnaire) in treated compared with non-treated people after 24 months (mean difference (MD) 12.30, 95% CI 4.24 to 20.36). In exploratory subgroup analyses in the follow-on study to AREDS (AREDS2), replacing beta-carotene with lutein/zeaxanthin gave hazard ratios (HR) of 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.96), 0.78 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.94), 0.94 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.26), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.03) for progression to late AMD, neovascular AMD, geographic atrophy, and vision loss, respectively. Six studies compared lutein (with or without zeaxanthin) with placebo and one study compared a multivitamin including lutein/zeaxanthin with multivitamin alone. The duration of supplementation and follow-up ranged from six months to five years. Most evidence came from the AREDS2 study in the USA; almost all participants in AREDS2 also took the original AREDS supplementation formula. People taking lutein/zeaxanthin may have similar or slightly reduced risk of progression to late AMD (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.01), neovascular AMD (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.02), and geographic atrophy (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.05) compared with control (1 study, 4176 participants, 6891 eyes; low-certainty evidence). A similar risk of progression to visual loss of 15 or more letters was seen in the lutein/zeaxanthin and control groups (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.05; 6656 eyes; low-certainty evidence). Quality of life (Visual Function Questionnaire) was similar between groups (MD 1.21, 95% CI -2.59 to 5.01; 2 studies, 308 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). One study in Australia randomised 1204 people to vitamin E or placebo with four years of follow-up; 19% of participants had AMD. The number of late AMD events was low (N = 7) and the estimate of effect was uncertain (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.31 to 6.05; very low-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of any effect of treatment on visual loss (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.47; low-certainty evidence). There were no data on neovascular AMD, geographic atrophy, or quality of life. Five studies compared zinc with placebo. Evidence largely drawn from the largest study (AREDS) found a lower progression to late AMD over six years (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.98; 3 studies, 3790 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), neovascular AMD (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.93; moderate-certainty evidence), geographic atrophy (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.10; moderate-certainty evidence), or visual loss (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.00; 2 studies, 3791 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There were no data on quality of life. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the main reported adverse effect. In AREDS, zinc was associated with a higher risk of genitourinary problems in men, but no difference was seen between high- and low-dose zinc groups in AREDS2. Most studies were too small to detect rare adverse effects. Data from larger studies (AREDS/AREDS2) suggested there may be little or no effect on mortality with multivitamin (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.25; low-certainty evidence) or lutein/zeaxanthin supplementation (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.31; very low-certainty evidence), but confirmed the increased risk of lung cancer with beta-carotene, mostly in former smokers.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation (AREDS: vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc) probably slows down progression to late AMD. People with intermediate AMD have a higher chance of benefiting from antioxidant supplements because their risk of progression is higher than people with early AMD. Although low-certainty evidence suggested little effect with lutein/zeaxanthin alone compared with placebo, exploratory subgroup analyses from one large American study support the view that lutein/zeaxanthin may be a suitable replacement for the beta-carotene used in the original AREDS formula.

An Analysis of the Usage of Retinal Imaging Technology in the Detection of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that worsens the central vision of numerous individuals across the globe. Ensuring that patients are diagnosed accurately and that their symptoms are carefully monitored is essential to ensure that adequate care is delivered. To accomplish this objective, retinal imaging technology is necessary to assess the pathophysiology that is required to give an accurate diagnosis of AMD. The purpose of this review is to assess the ability of various retinal imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus retinal photography, fluorescein angiography, and fundus photography. The statistical methods that were conducted yielded results that suggested that using OCT in conjunction with other imaging technologies results in a higher detection of symptoms among patients that have AMD. Further investigation should be conducted to ascertain the validity of the conclusions that were stated within the review.

Vaccinium as Potential Therapy for Diabetes and Microvascular Complications

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most critical global health concerns, with a fast-growing prevalence. The incidence of diabetic vascular complications is also rapidly increasing, exacerbating the burden on individuals with diabetes and the consumption of public medical resources. Despite the overall improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic microvascular complications in recent years, safe and effective alternative or adjunctive therapies are urgently needed. The mechanisms underlying diabetic vascular complications are complex, with hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation being the leading causes. Therefore, glycemic control, antioxidation, and anti-inflammation are considered the main targets for the treatment of diabetes and its vascular comorbidities. Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) is a genus of plants enriched with polyphenolic compounds in their leaves and fruits. Vaccinium and its extracts have demonstrated good bioactivity in reducing blood glucose, oxidative stress, and inflammation, making them excellent candidates for the management of diabetes and diabetic vascular complications. Here, we review recent preclinical and clinical studies on the potential effect of Vaccinium on ameliorating diabetes and diabetic complications, particularly diabetic kidney disease and diabetic retinopathy.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Aging Eye

Given the expanding elderly population in the United States and the world, it is important to understand the processes underlying both natural and pathological age-related changes in the eye. Both the anterior and posterior segment of the eye undergo changes in biological, chemical, and physical properties driven by oxidative stress. With advancing age, changes in the anterior segment include dermatochalasis, blepharoptosis, thickening of the sclera, loss of corneal endothelial cells, and stiffening of the lens. Changes in the posterior segment include lowered viscoelasticity of the vitreous body, photoreceptor cell loss, and drusen deposition at the macula and fovea. Age-related ocular pathologies including glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration are largely mediated by oxidative stress. The prevalence of these diseases is expected to increase in the coming years, highlighting the need to develop new therapies that address oxidative stress and slow the progression of age-related pathologies.

Blueberry Anthocyanins from Commercial Products: Structure Identification and Potential for Diabetic Retinopathy Amelioration

The aim of the present study was to determine the major anthocyanins of blueberry extracts from northeast China and explore their vision health improvement effects. HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS results suggested that six different anthocyanins were accurately identified, among which the Cy-3-glu (C3G) was the most abundant, ranging from 376.91 ± 7.91 to 763.70 ± 4.99 μM. The blueberry extract contained a higher purity of anthocyanins, and the anthocyanosides reached 342.98 mg/kg. The anti-oxidative stress function of C3G on HG-treated ARPE-19 cells were evaluated, and showed that the GSSG level of HG-cells pretreated with 10 μM C3G was significantly decreased, while the Nrf2 and NQO1 gene expression levels were increased. Further molecular docking (MD) results indicated that the C3G displayed favorable binding affinity towards REDD1, and only the B-ring of the C3G molecule displayed binding interactions with the CYS-140 amino acids within the REDD1 protein. It implied that the oxidative stress amelioration effects of C3G on the ARPE-19 cells were related to the REDD1 protein, which was probably via the Nrf2 pathways, although further studies are needed to provide mechanism evidence. The present study provides novel insights into understanding the roles of blueberry anthocyanins in ameliorating oxidative stress-induced BRB damage in the retina.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementations on Delaying the Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a neurodegenerative ophthalmic disease. The purpose of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis was to evaluate if dietary supplementation alone or in combinations might delay the progression of any of the stages of AMD. Methods: A SR and meta-analysis identifying cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of supplements in patients diagnosed with AMD. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINHAL, and Cochrane were searched through 8th October 2021. Results: Twenty studies, examining 5634 participants ranging from 55 to 80 years, were included in the SR. Eight studies were selected for meta-analysis (414 and 216 subjects in the intervention and control groups). Lutein and zeaxanthin plus n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) supplementation showed significant improvements in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (SMD: −1.99, 95% CI: −3.33, −0.65) compared to the control group. Multifocal electroretinogram results (mfERG) were significantly improved overall (SMD: 4.59, 95% CI: 1.75, 7.43) after L plus Z supplementation. Conclusions: Combinations of lutein and zeaxanthin with n-3 LC-PUFA might be beneficial in preventing AMD progression and deterioration of visual function. Our results encourage initiating further studies with combinations of n-3 LC-PUFA, lutein, and zeaxanthin especially in early AMD patients.

Inherited Retinal Dystrophies: Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Their Physiopathology and Therapeutic Implications

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a large group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous diseases characterized by the progressive degeneration of the retina, ultimately leading to loss of visual function. Oxidative stress and inflammation play fundamental roles in the physiopathology of these diseases. Photoreceptor cell death induces an inflammatory state in the retina. The activation of several molecular pathways triggers different cellular responses to injury, including the activation of microglia to eliminate debris and recruit inflammatory cells from circulation. Therapeutical options for IRDs are currently limited, although a small number of patients have been successfully treated by gene therapy. Many other therapeutic strategies are being pursued to mitigate the deleterious effects of IRDs associated with oxidative metabolism and/or inflammation, including inhibiting reactive oxygen species’ accumulation and inflammatory responses, and blocking autophagy. Several compounds are being tested in clinical trials, generating great expectations for their implementation. The present review discusses the main death mechanisms that occur in IRDs and the latest therapies that are under investigation.

Vitamin D and Ocular Diseases: A Systematic Review

The contributory roles of vitamin D in ocular and visual health have long been discussed, with numerous studies pointing to the adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency. In this paper, we provide a systematic review of recent findings on the association between vitamin D and different ocular diseases, including myopia, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), dry eye syndrome (DES), thyroid eye disease (TED), uveitis, retinoblastoma (RB), cataract, and others, from epidemiological, clinical and basic studies, and briefly discuss vitamin D metabolism in the eye. We searched two research databases for articles examining the association between vitamin D deficiency and different ocular diseases. One hundred and sixty-two studies were found. There is evidence on the association between vitamin D and myopia, AMD, DR, and DES. Overall, 17 out of 27 studies reported an association between vitamin D and AMD, while 48 out of 54 studies reported that vitamin D was associated with DR, and 25 out of 27 studies reported an association between vitamin D and DES. However, the available evidence for the association with other ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, TED, and RB, remains limited.

Production of Plant Proteases and New Biotechnological Applications: An Updated Review

An updated review of emerging plant proteases with potential biotechnological application is presented. Plant proteases show comparable or even greater performance than animal or microbial proteases for by‐product valorization through hydrolysis for, for example, cheese whey, bird feathers, collagen, keratinous materials, gelatin, fish protein, and soy protein. Active biopeptides can be obtained as high added value products, which have shown numerous beneficial effects on human health. Plant proteases can also be used for wastewater treatment. The production of new plant proteases is encouraged for the following advantages: low cost of isolation using simple procedures, remarkable stability over a wide range of operating conditions (temperature, pH, salinity, and organic solvents), substantial affinity to a broad variety of substrates, and possibility of immobilization. Vegetable proteases have enormous application potential for the valorization of industrial waste and its conversion into products with high added value through low‐cost processes.

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) an edible mushroom; a comprehensive and critical review of its nutritional, cosmeceutical, mycochemical, pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological properties

Reishi owes an exceptional value in nutritional, cosmeceutical, and medical treatments; however, none of the studies has provided its future-driven critical assessment. This study documents an up-to-date review (2015-2020, wherever applicable) and provide valuable insights (preclinical and clinical evidence-based) with comprehensive and critical assessments. Various databases 'Google scholar', 'Web of Science', 'ScienceDirect', 'PubMed', 'Springer Link', books, theses, and library resources were used. The taxonomic chaos of G. lucidum and its related species was discussed in detail with solution-oriented emphasis. Reishi contains polysaccharides (α/β-D-glucans), alkaloids, triterpenoids (ganoderic acids, ganoderenic acids, ganoderol, ganoderiol, lucidenic acids), sterols/ergosterol, proteins (LZ-8, LZ-9), nucleosides (adenosine, inosine, uridine), and nucleotides (guanine, adenine). Some active drugs are explored at an optimum level to make them potential drug candidates. The pharmacological potential was observed in diabetes, inflammation, epilepsy, neurodegeneration, cancer, anxiety, sedation, cardiac diseases, depression, hepatic diseases, and immune disorders; however, most of the studies are preclinical with a number of drawbacks. In particular, quality clinical data are intensely needed to support pharmacological activities for human use. The presence of numerous micro-, macro, and trace elements imparts an essential nutritional and cosmeceutical value to Reishi, and various marketed products are available already, but the clinical studies regarding safety and efficacy, interactions with foods/drinks, chronic use, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity are missing for Reishi. Reishi possesses many valuable pharmacological activities, and the number of patents and clinical trials is increasing for Reishi. Yet, a gap in research exists for Reishi, which is discussed in detail in the forthcoming sections.

A Re-Appraisal of Pathogenic Mechanisms Bridging Wet and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Leads to Reconsider a Role for Phytochemicals

Which pathogenic mechanisms underlie age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? Are they different for dry and wet variants, or do they stem from common metabolic alterations? Where shall we look for altered metabolism? Is it the inner choroid, or is it rather the choroid–retinal border? Again, since cell-clearing pathways are crucial to degrade altered proteins, which metabolic system is likely to be the most implicated, and in which cell type? Here we describe the unique clearing activity of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the relevant role of its autophagy machinery in removing altered debris, thus centering the RPE in the pathogenesis of AMD. The cell-clearing systems within the RPE may act as a kernel to regulate the redox homeostasis and the traffic of multiple proteins and organelles toward either the choroid border or the outer segments of photoreceptors. This is expected to cope with the polarity of various domains within RPE cells, with each one owning a specific metabolic activity. A defective clearance machinery may trigger unconventional solutions to avoid intracellular substrates’ accumulation through unconventional secretions. These components may be deposited between the RPE and Bruch’s membrane, thus generating the drusen, which remains the classic hallmark of AMD. These deposits may rather represent a witness of an abnormal RPE metabolism than a real pathogenic component. The empowerment of cell clearance, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic activity of the RPE by specific phytochemicals is here discussed.