Welcome
Support Centre
12 February 2012 
ISRCTN Register - International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number
Trial registration
Unique identification scheme
International databases
home  |   my details  |   ISRCTN Register  |   mRCT  |   links  |   information  |   press
Find trials
ISRCTN Register
tips on searching

Registration
New application
Updating record

Information
introduction
governing board
ISRCTN FAQs
data set
letter of agreement
request information
guidance notes

[ ...Back to search results ] [ Print-friendly version ]
Supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid, combined with other nutritionals in glaucoma patients
ISRCTN ISRCTN34018148
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
Public title Supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid, combined with other nutritionals in glaucoma patients
Scientific title Randomised, parallel, double-masked, placebo-controlled, pilot study of oral supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (LA) 150 mg/d combined with other nutritionals in glaucoma patients
Acronym N/A
Serial number at source Protocol # 476
Study hypothesis Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a complex, chronic pathology, characterised by trabecular meshwork modifications, slowly progressive optic neuropathy resulting in visual field damage and in most of the cases, ocular hypertension (OHT). In glaucoma patients high levels of different markers of oxidative stress have been found. With regard to anti-oxidant defenses, low levels of glutathione in serum and aqueous humor and a decreased total reactive anti-oxidant potential in aqueous humor have been evidenced in glaucoma patients. Some publications suggest that antioxidants are important in maintaining cellular homeostasis relevant to the etiology of POAG. More studies are needed for a further precision of the real importance of nutritional factors in glaucoma.

A nutritional formula combining different antioxidants (alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, bilberry extract) and vitamins B1, B12 is proposed to be tested in glaucoma patients. In this study two hypothesis has been tested:
Hypothesis 1: That a 6 month treatment with the antioxidant formulation at a dosage of 1 tablet (containing alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, bilberry extract, vitamin B1 and B12) twice a day versus placebo significantly increases the level of total antioxidant status in serum.
Hypothesis 2: That 6 month treatment with antioxidant formulation at dosage of 1 tablet twice a day versus placebo significantly reduces the level of oxidative stress marker (isoprostanes) in urine in patients with POAG.

In both cases the null hypothesis, expected to be rejected, is that there is no difference between the antioxidant formulation and placebo.
Lay summary
Ethics approval Freiburger Ethic Commission International gave approval on the 11th September 2006 (ref: 06/1966). Amendment 1: 2nd June 2008.
Study design Randomised parallel double-masked placebo-controlled single-centre pilot study
Countries of recruitment Romania
Disease/condition/study domain Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)
Participants - inclusion criteria 1. Adult patients (men or women) suffering from bilateral or unilateral POAG with intraocular pressure (IOP) less than 20 mmHg (treated with local therapy). POAG is defined as primary open angle glaucoma with a cup/disc ratio (CDR) greater than 0.5 and visual field defect of at least the parameters of an automated perimeter (MD, PSD) outside the normal range.
2. Aged between 40 and 60 years
3. IOP controlled only with local anti-glaucomatous medication
4. Visual acuity of at least 0.5 (decimal fractions)
5. Patients have given their written informed consent
Participants - exclusion criteria 1. Any concomitant medication
2. Vasospastic syndrome (migraine, Raynaud's syndrome)
3. Coronary heart disease
4. Stroke
5. Obesity (body mass index [BMI] greater than 30 kg/m^2)
6. Cardiovascular risk factors: HTN (systolic greater than or equal to 140 mmHg, diastolic greater than or equal to 90 mmHg), known hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smokers (greater than 3 cigarettes/day)
7. Severe systemic or ocular disease
8. Autoimmune disease
9. Secondary glaucoma and angle closure glaucoma
10. Exfoliation syndrome
11. Other ocular degenerative disease (cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration [ARMD])
12. History of eye surgery (including laser), trauma
13. Drug, alcohol abuse
14. Known sensitivity to the tested ingredients
15. Supplementation with antioxidants within the previous 3 months
16. Any concomitant nutritional supplementation
17. Involvement in the last 30 days in any other investigational drug study
18. Pregnant and lactating women
19. Patients for whom, in the physician's opinion, any of the protocol procedures may pose a special risk not outweighed by the potential benefits of participating in the study
20. Patients who are unlikely to comply with the study protocol or who are likely to be moving and lost to follow up in the study period
21. Patients who plan to start a diet or to change their diet during the course of the study
Anticipated start date 14/02/2007
Anticipated end date 30/08/2007
Status of trial Completed
Patient information material Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Target number of participants 40 (20 per group)
Interventions This double-blind placebo controlled study has two study arms:
1. The placebo formulation contains lactose, cellulose and magnesium stearate as their sole components
2. The ingredients of the antioxidant formulation are (per tablet): alpha-lipoic acid (75 mg), vitamin E (alpha tocopherol, 18 mg), vitamin C (calcium ascorbate, 35 mg), vitamin B1 (thiamin, 1.8 mg), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamine, 2.5 µg), bilberry extract (50 mg, containing at least 25% anthocyane). Further ingredients are cellulose (microcrystalline), lactose and magnesium stearate.

All subjects (placebo = 20 subjects and treatment = 20 subjects) take 1 tablet twice a day with a glass of cold water for 6 months. Study visits were at baseline and a 6 month exit visit. Two follow-up phone calls have also been done.
Primary outcome measure(s) Efficacy variables:
1. Variation of serum total antioxidant status, measured using Total Antioxidant Assay
2. Urine isoprostane values, measured using Prostaglandin Assay

The main criteria will be the changes from baseline until 6 months after start of supplementation. The efficacy analyses compare these two criteria in the two groups (supplemented and placebo group). For the analysis blood and urine samples have been drawn from each patient at baseline and after 6 months (180 days). All serum and urine samples have been sent and analysed in a centralised laboratory, with the same method, the same equipment and the same staff for better quality of results.
Secondary outcome measure(s) 1. Total glutathione status in serum, measured using Glutathione Assay Kit
2. Uric acid status in serum
3. Status of ascorbic acid in serum, determined by individual HPLC
4. Status of tocopherol in serum, determined by individual HPLC
5. Contrast sensitivity
6. Analysis of safety of oral supplementation

Serum of blood samples, drawn at baseline and visit 2 (6 months after baseline) of each patient, will be kept frozen for optional analysis of the antibody pattern. Safety was assessed by means of the adverse event report and an ophthalmic examination. In the ophthalmic examination a slit lamp examination was performed, the visual acuity has been assessed, the IOP has been measured using applanation tonometer (always at 8 o'clock in the morning for all patients), a funduscopy was carried out (examination of macula, optic nerve head and cup/disc ratio) and the visual field was analysed. The ophthalmic examination has been performed for the study and the fellow eye.
Sources of funding Dr. Mann Pharma GmbH, Bausch & Lomb Group (Germany)
Trial website
Publications
Contact name Dr  Catherine  Allaire
  Address 5B, rue Jules Guesde
ZA Bois de l’épine
  City/town Evry Cedex
  Zip/Postcode 91031
  Country France
Sponsor Dr. Mann Pharma GmbH, Bausch & Lomb Group (Germany)
  Address Brunsbuetteler Damm 165 - 173
  City/town Berlin
  Zip/Postcode 13581
  Country Germany
  Sponsor website: http://www.bausch-lomb.de/
Date applied 28/11/2008
Last edited 30/01/2009
Date ISRCTN assigned 30/01/2009
Submit your trial protocol
Submit to Trials journal
Follow us on Twitter
© 2012 ISRCTN unless otherwise stated.


BioMed Central