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Insights into vitamin B2 therapy for keratoconus

 

Seattle, Wash. — Vitamin B2, riboflavin, is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays an important role in many bodily functions such as energy production, protecting cells from damage, and metabolizing fats, carbs and proteins. Riboflavin is found in certain foods and is sold as a dietary supplement. In 2017, a U.S. clinical trial studied individuals with sunlight exposure and dietary riboflavin. They reported that patients showed improvement in corneal flattening, a change in the curvature of the cornea. This week at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s (ARVO) Annual Meeting in Seattle, Wash., scientists took it further to investigate whether oral riboflavin intake could reach corneal tissue and be a potential treatment for keratoconus progression.

Ludmila N. Silva, MD, and her team at the Department of Ophthalmology at the Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine in Brazil, evaluated how much riboflavin was in the cornea and the fluid around the eye after oral administration of large amounts of vitamin B2. They studied patients with keratoconus, where some were given a daily dose of 400 mg for 10 to 30 days and others were not.

Their results showed that the doses of oral riboflavin reached both the aqueous humor and corneas at high concentrations. Silva pointed out that “combining oral riboflavin intake with exposure to sunlight may represent a promising treatment option for keratoconus.”

  • Abstract title: Analysis of riboflavin levels in aqueous humor and human corneas after oral absorption
  • Presentation start/end time: Wednesday, May 8, 11:30 – 11:45am PT 
  • Location: Room 615 (Level 6), Seattle Convention Center – Arch Building
  • Presentation number: 4298

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

Media contact:
Jenniffer Scherhaufer, MMC, CAE
1.240.221.2923
media@arvo.org

 

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