Effects of a Red-Ginger-Based Multi-Nutrient Supplement on Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Q: What supplement composition was evaluated in the study?

The supplement included red ginger extract (Zingiber officinale var. rubra) along with lutein and vitamin B6.

Q: How was optic nerve head blood flow measured?

Optic nerve head blood flow was quantified using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG), assessing relative mean blur rate changes.

Q: What were the main findings after dosing and after continued intake?

A single oral dose significantly increased relative mean blur rate at 1 hour, and the increase was further enhanced after one month of continuous intake.

Sep 30, 2026

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Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder driven not only by elevated intraocular pressure but also by vascular and metabolic dysregulation that increases optic nerve head ischemia and neuronal vulnerability. This study evaluated acute and subacute effects of a single dose, then continued intake for one month, of a red-ginger extract–based supplement containing lutein and vitamin B6 on optic nerve head blood flow in open-angle glaucoma patients. A retrospective self-controlled design with laser speckle flowgraphy quantified relative mean blur rate changes and assessed systemic and ocular covariates. Results showed significant increases in blood flow after 1 hour and greater enhancement after one month, especially in eyes with shorter axial length.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Background: glaucoma and vascular dysregulation

Rationale for nutritional interventions and red ginger

Article Effects of a Red-Ginger-Based Multi-Nutrient Supplement on Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Open-Angle Glaucoma Akiko Hanyuda 1,2,3,†, Satoru Tsuda 2,4,†, Nana Takahashi 2, Naoki Takahashi 2, Kota Sato 2,5 and Toru Nakazawa 2,4,5,6, * Academic Editors: Carla Masala and Antonella Rosa Received: 31 October 2025 Revised: 25 November 2025 Accepted: 25 November 2025 Published: 1 January 2026 Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku 160-8582, Tokyo, Japan; [akihanyu@keio.jp](akihanyu@keio.jp) 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan 3 Epidemiology and Prevention Group, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku 104-0045, Tokyo, Japan 4 Division of Ophthalmic Precision Medicine Development, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan 5 Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan 6 Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan * Correspondence: [toru.nakazawa.e1@tohoku.ac.jp](toru.nakazawa.e1@tohoku.ac.jp); Tel.: +81-227177292 † These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract Objectives: Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, characterized by retinal ganglion cell loss and progressive visual field deterioration. Beyond intraocular pressure (IOP), vascular and metabolic dysregulation contributes to optic nerve head (ONH) ischemia and neuronal vulnerability. Nutritional factors with antioxidative and vasodilatory properties may help preserve ocular perfusion. This study investigated the acute and subacute effects of a single dose of a dietary supplement containing red ginger extract (Zingiber officinale var. rubra), lutein, and vitamin B6 on ONH blood flow in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) . Methods: A retrospective self-controlled study was conducted at Tohoku University Hospital between August 2023 and March 2025 . ONH blood flow was quantified using a laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) baseline one hour after and one month after continuous oral supplementation in patients with OAG. Systemic parameters, ocular biometry, and concomitant glaucoma medications were recorded in medical charts. Relative mean blur rate (MBR) changes were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model, accounting for repeated measures and inter-eye correlations. Results: Nineteen glaucoma patients (38 eyes) were included in the acute phase and 13 patients (26 eyes) completed the one-month follow-up. After adjusting for age and sex, a single oral dose of red ginger extract significantly increased the relative MBR at 1 h (106.9 ± 3.1%; p < 0.05), and this enhancement increased after 1 month of continuous intake (115.4 ± 6.7%; p < 0.05) . Greater ONH perfusion was particularly prominent in eyes with shorter axial length. Conclusions: Oral supplementation was associated with acute and short-term increases in ONH blood flow in glaucomatous eyes. Although this study was a retrospective study without a placebo-controlled comparison group, our findings offer hypothesisgenerating evidence that nutritional interventions may support ocular perfusion alongside conventional glaucoma management. Future prospective randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these associations. Keywords: aging; dietary supplement; glaucoma; ocular perfusion; red ginger 1. Introduction Glaucoma is a chronic, age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive re

FAQs

What supplement composition was evaluated in the study?

The supplement included red ginger extract (Zingiber officinale var. rubra) along with lutein and vitamin B6.

How was optic nerve head blood flow measured?

Optic nerve head blood flow was quantified using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG), assessing relative mean blur rate changes.

What were the main findings after dosing and after continued intake?

A single oral dose significantly increased relative mean blur rate at 1 hour, and the increase was further enhanced after one month of continuous intake.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by A glass of water