Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, affecting more than 60 million people worldwide. Currently, surgery or eye drops are used as medical treatments to reduce eye pressure, but neither can protect cells from additional damage or improve cell function. 

Nicotinamide, a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 (niacin), may play a role in protecting against nerve cell damage that contributes to blindness in glaucoma, according to research published in Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.*

What they did

There were a total of 57 patients, all of whom received both placebo and vitamin B3 throughout the crossover study. Visual function was examined through electroretinography, a diagnostic test that measures electrical activity in the retinal cells, and visual field testing to determine any changes that may have occurred. 

Through these tests, researchers discovered the high-dose nicotinamide significantly improved the function of nerve cells. While earlier pre-clinical research showed that nicotinamide could prevent optic nerve degeneration, this study was the first to show positive results in a human clinical trial.

What they found

Results of the study show that glaucoma patients who took three (3) grams of nicotinamide every day for 12 weeks—in addition to their regular treatment to reduce eye pressure—had significant improvement in visual function. 

According to lead author, Dr. Flora Hui at the Center for Eye Research Australia, “As a safe therapy that is well tolerated by patients, vitamin B3 has potential as a clinical supplement to support patients who are receiving glaucoma treatment.”

What it means

Future research will look at whether or not this improvement can be sustained over a longer term to reduce the progression of glaucoma. This will determine the benefits of the ongoing use of vitamin B3 by patients with glaucoma.

As Dr. Hui stated, “Like adding oil to a car engine to allow it to run smoothly, vitamin B3 could be used to protect cells from damage and help those that have been affected by glaucoma work better.”

*Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. (2020, July 29). Vitamin B3 shows promise for glaucoma patients in clinical trial. Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-vitamin-b3-glaucoma-patients-clinical.html

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