Alternative therapy: Vitamin C and Glaucoma

Nutritional therapy for glaucoma is not commonly practiced, but a body of work has been building up across the globe since 1960s’ to support an adjunctive role for the same.

How Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and Glaucoma? In glaucoma, there is an evidence that ascorbic acid may be decreased in the aqueous humor, while secondary products of lipid peroxidation may be increased. Supplementation with vitamin C is believed to increase aqueous humor drainage by reducing the viscosity of hyaluronic acid and reducing free oxygen radicals.

Suggested dose: Between 750 and 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C daily seems to work best.

Sources of Vitamin C: Excellent food sources of vitamin C include broccoli, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower, strawberries, lemons, mustard and turnip greens, brussels sprouts, papaya, chard, cabbage, spinach, kiwifruit, snow peas, cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit, limes, tomatoes, zucchini, raspberries, asparagus, celery, pineapples, lettuce, watermelon, fennel, peppermint and parsley.

Is it for every glaucoma patient? Well, logically it should help, so I guess no harm in taking ascorbic acid rich diet or an oral supplemental tablet. Since vitamin C is water-soluble, the body is able to expel any that it does not need and, therefore, it is unlikely to have any toxic effects in a normal dosage. Though, too much Vitamin C may cause nausea, diarrhea, reduced selenium and copper absorption and increased kidney stone formation. Taking too much vitamin C could even cause you to have a false-positive reaction to diabetes tests.

So, I would say just stick to a Vitamin C rich diet.

Supportive literature:

Ongoing research and evidence from across the globe since 1967…..till date

• Yuki K, Murat D, Kimura I, Ohtake Y, Tsubota K.Reduced-serum vitamin C and increased uric acid levels in normal-tension glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2010 Feb;248(2):243-8.
•   Leite MT, Prata TS, Kera CZ, Miranda DV, de Moraes Barros SB, Melo LA Jr. Ascorbic acid concentration is reduced in the secondary aqueous humour of glaucomatous patients. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2009 May;37(4):402-6.

• Wendt MD, Soparkar CN, Louie K, Basinger SF, Gross RL. Ascorbate stimulates type I and type III collagen in human Tenon's fibroblasts. J Glaucoma. 1997 Dec;6(6):402-7.   
• Schachtschabel DO, Binninger E. Stimulatory effects of ascorbic acid on hyaluronic acid synthesis of in vitro cultured normal and glaucomatous trabecular meshwork cells of the human eye. Z Gerontol. 1993 Jul-Aug;26(4):243-6.

•  Missiroli A, Neuschüler R, Pecori Giraldi J. [Therapeutic possibilities of the association of oral glycerol and ascorbic acid in the treatment of glaucoma] Boll Ocul. 1967 Nov;46(11):877-90. Italian.
•    Suzuki Y, Kitazawa Y, Kawanishi K.  [The effect of intravenous ascorbic acid on IOP in man] Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1967 May;71(5):481-8. Japanese.

And  many more………………………………