The Effect of Resveratrol, Quercetin, and Curcumin on Drusen Volume in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

What was studied

This open-label phase 2a trial compared resveratrol, quercetin and curcumin (RQC) with curcumin alone. The condition was age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Patients had early and intermediate AMD. They were assigned by chance, 2 to 1, to oral RQC or curcumin. Treatment lasted 24 months. The main outcome was how much central drusen volume changed on average. It was measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Other outcomes were drusen number and visual acuity (BCVA). They also included vision loss, advanced AMD and safety.

What they found

After 24 months, central drusen volume fell significantly with RQC. It fell by 13.4 with RQC. It rose by 6.9 with curcumin. The p value was 0.02. Mean BCVA rose by 0.8 letters with RQC. It fell by 2.1 letters with curcumin. The p value was 0.08. Mild and moderate vision loss were both less frequent with RQC. In the RQC group, advanced AMD developed in 3.7 of participants. It developed in 2.3 of eyes.

What it means for patients

The authors say RQC went with lower drusen volume. They say it went with low rates of progression to advanced AMD. They say it also went with steady BCVA over 24 months. They call this preliminary clinical evidence. They say the oral therapy may reduce drusen burden. They say it warrants further evaluation as a potential treatment.

Why it is not certain yet

The trial was open-label. The BCVA gap was not significant, with a p value of 0.08. The authors call the evidence preliminary. The comparison was with curcumin, not placebo. A single trial can only show so much.

Source

The Effect of Resveratrol, Quercetin, and Curcumin on Drusen Volume in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

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