Lee Swanson Research Update

SOD Supplement May Protect Against AMD

January 2007

Patented GliSODin, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplement, boosted antioxidant levels in mice by 30% and helped protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a recent French study.

"Oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species has been implicated in many diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, in which the retinal pigment epithelium is a primary target," researchers stated. "The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of dietary supplementation with superoxide dismutase (SOD) on light-induced oxidative stress."

Researchers used two types of mice, a senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAM P8) and a SAM resistant 1 (SAM R1, controls). The mice were exposed to light (1900 lux for 7 hours) at one, two and three months of age to induce oxidative stress in the pigment cell layer that nourishes the retinal cells and promotes AMD. At three months of age and before the last light exposure, the mice were given either GliSODin or a water placebo for one week.

Researchers found that by utilizing exposure to light, they were able to induce damaging retinal oxidative stress levels, measured by the oxidant superoxide anion. They also found that supplementation with GliSODin significantly decreased superoxide anion levels, compared to the non-supplemented group. Researchers concluded that light exposure promotes retinal oxidative stress while GliSODin supplementation efficiently limits retinal oxidative stress by increasing plasma antioxidant capacity.

The research was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Eye Research Conference and is also published online in the peer-reviewed journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science 47:E-Abstract 2089

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