Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma

Abstract Vitamin A (VA), which plays a vital role in maintaining normal eye functions, has shown potential benefits in glaucoma based on accumulating evidence. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarize the possible role of VA and VA derivatives in the prevention and treatment of gla...

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Main Authors: Xinyue Zhang, Honghao Yang, Xiaoyu Zhou, Jiahao Xu, Jiawei Chen, Li Liao, Ping Wu, Xuanchu Duan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02780-4
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author Xinyue Zhang
Honghao Yang
Xiaoyu Zhou
Jiahao Xu
Jiawei Chen
Li Liao
Ping Wu
Xuanchu Duan
author_facet Xinyue Zhang
Honghao Yang
Xiaoyu Zhou
Jiahao Xu
Jiawei Chen
Li Liao
Ping Wu
Xuanchu Duan
author_sort Xinyue Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Vitamin A (VA), which plays a vital role in maintaining normal eye functions, has shown potential benefits in glaucoma based on accumulating evidence. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarize the possible role of VA and VA derivatives in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma, explore their mechanisms of action, suggest future research directions, and provide references for relevant researchers. Regarding the correlation between VA intake and glaucoma, researchers in different regions have conducted a series of studies, but most of them are cross-sectional studies. The results of different studies vary greatly and there are conflicting results, but the results of several systematic reviews and meta-analysis suggest that dietary VA intake can help reduce the risk of glaucoma. If increasing total dietary VA intake is successful as an effective prevention strategy, this would be a promising approach for primary prevention of glaucoma. Further, we summarized a large number of mechanism studies which have demonstrated the mechanisms of how VA might play a role in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma by inhibiting the oxidative stress process of trabecular meshwork and optic nerve tissue, reversing the effect of TGF-β2 on human trabecular meshwork cells and increasing intracranial pressure. Additionally, studies have also shown that VA and its derivatives could also play a role in preventing postoperative scarring and damage of the ocular surface due to the use of antiglaucoma drugs through a variety of mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-a904a2025c1c49b4b77a1cab9405f84e2025-08-20T03:03:27ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-013011910.1186/s40001-025-02780-4Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucomaXinyue Zhang0Honghao Yang1Xiaoyu Zhou2Jiahao Xu3Jiawei Chen4Li Liao5Ping Wu6Xuanchu Duan7Aier Glaucoma Institute, Hunan Engineering Research Center for Glaucoma With Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Application of New Materials, Changsha Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Center, Changsha Aier Eye HospitalTibet UniversityAier Glaucoma Institute, Hunan Engineering Research Center for Glaucoma With Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Application of New Materials, Changsha Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Center, Changsha Aier Eye HospitalAier Glaucoma Institute, Hunan Engineering Research Center for Glaucoma With Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Application of New Materials, Changsha Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Center, Changsha Aier Eye HospitalAier Glaucoma Institute, Hunan Engineering Research Center for Glaucoma With Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Application of New Materials, Changsha Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Center, Changsha Aier Eye HospitalAier School of Ophthalmology, Central South UniversityAier School of Ophthalmology, Central South UniversityAier Glaucoma Institute, Hunan Engineering Research Center for Glaucoma With Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Application of New Materials, Changsha Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Innovation Center, Changsha Aier Eye HospitalAbstract Vitamin A (VA), which plays a vital role in maintaining normal eye functions, has shown potential benefits in glaucoma based on accumulating evidence. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarize the possible role of VA and VA derivatives in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma, explore their mechanisms of action, suggest future research directions, and provide references for relevant researchers. Regarding the correlation between VA intake and glaucoma, researchers in different regions have conducted a series of studies, but most of them are cross-sectional studies. The results of different studies vary greatly and there are conflicting results, but the results of several systematic reviews and meta-analysis suggest that dietary VA intake can help reduce the risk of glaucoma. If increasing total dietary VA intake is successful as an effective prevention strategy, this would be a promising approach for primary prevention of glaucoma. Further, we summarized a large number of mechanism studies which have demonstrated the mechanisms of how VA might play a role in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma by inhibiting the oxidative stress process of trabecular meshwork and optic nerve tissue, reversing the effect of TGF-β2 on human trabecular meshwork cells and increasing intracranial pressure. Additionally, studies have also shown that VA and its derivatives could also play a role in preventing postoperative scarring and damage of the ocular surface due to the use of antiglaucoma drugs through a variety of mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02780-4GlaucomaVitamin ARetinolOcular surface damage
spellingShingle Xinyue Zhang
Honghao Yang
Xiaoyu Zhou
Jiahao Xu
Jiawei Chen
Li Liao
Ping Wu
Xuanchu Duan
Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
European Journal of Medical Research
Glaucoma
Vitamin A
Retinol
Ocular surface damage
title Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
title_full Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
title_fullStr Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
title_full_unstemmed Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
title_short Potential benefits of vitamin A and its derivatives in glaucoma
title_sort potential benefits of vitamin a and its derivatives in glaucoma
topic Glaucoma
Vitamin A
Retinol
Ocular surface damage
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02780-4
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