Ascorbic Acid

FRIDAY, Aug. 30, 2024 -- Dietary intake of vitamin E may potentially lower the risk for atopic dermatitis, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Skin Research & Technology . Siqing Wang, from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and colleagues conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the causal relationship between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake (vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, and retinol) and atopic dermatitis. The researchers observed a causal relationship between vitamin E intake and atopic dermatitis (odds ratio, 0.859; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.745 to 0.992; P = 0.038). No causal relationship was seen between the other three vitamins and atopic dermatitis (odds ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 0.953 [0.826 to 1.099; P = 0.507], 1.011 [0.864 to 1.184; P = 0.890], and 1.063 [0.893 to 1.264; P = 0.492] for vitamin C, carotene, and retinol, respectively). In a sensitivity analysis, none of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms were detected as heterogeneous and no significant pleiotropy was observed. "The analysis suggests that dietary intake of vitamin E could potentially reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis. Conversely, intake of vitamin C, retinol, and carotene does not appear to be causally related to atopic dermatitis," the authors write. "Although vitamin E intake could be protective against atopic dermatitis, intake of dietary antioxidant vitamins to prevent or treat atopic dermatitis is not necessary." Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

MONDAY, July 22, 2024 -- Daily supplements can slow loss of vision related to late-stage “dry” age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a new study finds. The rate of dry AMD progression into a key eye region slowed by about 55% over an average three years for late-stage patients who took a daily blend of antioxidants and minerals, researchers reported July 16 in the journal Ophthalmology . Prior results have shown that supplements slow the progression from intermediate to late AMD, said lead researcher Dr. Tiarnan Keenan , a staff clinician with the National Eye Institute. “Our analysis shows that taking … supplements can also slow disease progression in people with late dry AMD,” Keenan said in an institute news release. The supplements include the antioxidants vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, along with the minerals zinc and copper. Dry AMD is the most common form of macular degeneration, affecting nine out of 10 people with the eye condition, the Cleveland Clinic says. Dry AMD occurs when small yellow deposits of fatty proteins called drusen start to develop along the light-sensing retina at the back of a person’s eye, researchers explained in background notes. These deposits cause the loss of light-sensitive cells in the retina, a condition called “geographic atrophy” that slowly expands over time. As a result, people progressively lose their central vision. The new study focused on the fovea, a small depression at the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp central vision. Many people with dry AMD first develop geographic atrophy outside the fovea, and only lose their central vision when AMD encroaches into the fovea, researchers noted. For the new study, researchers reviewed data on more than 1,200 participants in two clinical trials testing the effectiveness of supplements to slow AMD progression. The trials were funded by the federal government. The analysis showed that for people whose dry AMD hadn’t affected the fovea, taking supplements could slow the progression of the eye disease to that crucial region. “Our high acuity central vision is essential for tasks like reading and driving,” Keenan said. “Given that there are few therapeutic options for people with late-stage dry AMD to retain or restore their vision, antioxidant supplementation is a simple step that may slow central vision loss, even for those with late disease.” Researchers plan to conduct a follow-up clinical trial to confirm these results, Keenan added. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.