Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and remains the leading cause of new-onset blindness in adults across industrialized nations. As the global prevalence of diabetes rises, so does the need for effective strategies to protect and preserve vision.
Recent clinical studies have explored the role of targeted micronutrient supplementation in both preventing the onset of DR and managing its progression. These studies highlight promising results, demonstrating that supplementation with RetiCap®DR micronutrients can improve contrast sensitivity, stabilize retinal health, and potentially slow the progression of DR—offering a proactive approach to diabetic eye care.
How Can Micronutrient Supplementation Help?
With growing clinical evidence, RetiCap®DR emerges as a potential science-backed solution for diabetic patients looking to safeguard their vision. For detailed study results and frequently asked questions, explore the sections below.
(R)-alpha lipoic acid, capsule shell (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, colorants: iron oxides and hydroxides), bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose; rutin (rutoside trihydrate), anti-caking agent: silicon dioxide, magnesium salts of fatty acids; Vitamin B2 (riboflavin-5-phosphate sodium), vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate).
The complex pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is triggered by hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress (OS), which damages capillary endothelial cells, nerve cells, and glial cells in the retina. Increased OS leads to changes in cellular metabolism, including:
These mechanisms further amplify oxidative stress, promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, and result in vascular abnormalities as well as increased apoptosis. The micronutrient complex in RetiCap®DR is designed to interrupt these pathological processes and support retinal health.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring dithiol compound known for its antioxidant and metal-chelating properties. ALA is produced in the body either enzymatically in mitochondria or ingested through food. R-alpha-lipoic acid is the biologically active enantiomer that serves as a cofactor for mitochondrial enzymes.
Alpha-lipoic acid
Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 consists of a pyrimidine ring connected to a thiazole ring via a methyl group. It is ingested with food and then converted into the biologically active form thiamine diphosphate (TPP). As a coenzyme, TPP is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B2 is the precursor to the coenzymes flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Both FAD
and FMN function as electron carriers in various redox reactions, playing a key role in numerous metabolic pathways.
Vitamin B2
Rutin belongs to the group of bioflavonoids and is known for its vascular stabilising, antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Rutin
The evaluation of a therapeutic approach requires not only evidence of statistical significance but also an assessment of the clinical relevance of the results.
While statistical significance indicates that an observed effect is highly likely to be reproducible (typically at a 95% confidence level), analysing the effect size provides additional insights into the practical significance of this effect for patient care.
To comprehensively assess the effectiveness of micronutrient supplementation, differences in contrast sensitivity (CS) at various time points were analysed using ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Additionally, the effect size of six months of supplementation was calculated using Cohen’s d metric.
The effect size d classifies clinical relevance as follows:
This approach makes it possible to assess the actual impact of supplementation on patients beyond mere statistical significance.
The effect size was calculated for all supplemented groups to assess the clinical relevance of micronutrient supplementation. The results showed:
In summary, the analysis shows that micronutrient supplementation with the examined complex not only produces reproducible results but also leads to clinically relevant improvements in patients.
Watch this video with Dr. Franziska Wirth, where she presents exciting study results on the effects of alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins B1 and B2, and rutin on diabetic eyes at this year’s Conference of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG 2024) in Berlin.
For a closer look at the poster, click here: https://vivaquity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RetiCap-DR_Poster_Micronutrient-Supplementation-in-Diabetic-Patients.pdf
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This content is intended solely for the eyes of healthcare professionals. Please confirm below or visit the offical RetiCap®DR website for private customers.
