In a joint research with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a research group led by Professor Kazuo Tsubota of Keio University conducted a randomized controlled trial in which 69 elementary school students were given the gardenia-derived pigment component "crocetin", and crocetin was used as a child. It was confirmed that the extension of the axial length of the crocetin and the shortening of the refractive index were significantly suppressed.
The main cause of myopia is that the depth of the eye (axis length) becomes excessively long and out of focus on the retina.Previous research by the research group revealed that the gardenia-derived pigment component "crocetin" has the effect of increasing the expression of the gene "EGR-1" related to the suppression of myopia progression.Furthermore, it was confirmed for the first time in the world that administration of crocetin to a mouse model induced to myopia significantly suppressed "elongation of axial length" and "change in refractive power", which indicate the strength of myopia. ing.
In this study, 69 children with mild myopia (6-12 years old) with consent were randomly divided into two groups, a crocetin oral group and a placebo group not taking crocetin, followed up for 2 weeks, and the refractive index. A randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare changes in axial length.As a result, it was confirmed that the crocetin group suppressed the extension of the axial length by 24% and the decrease in the refractive power by 2%, and had the effect of significantly suppressing the progression of myopia, as compared with the placebo group as a control. Was done.It was also found that changes in the choroid (the outer membrane of the retina), which becomes thinner with myopia, are suppressed.
Since we were able to confirm the effectiveness of crocetin in childhood when the axial length is extended, crocetin administration is a new way to prevent the progression to severe myopia in the future by suppressing the progression of myopia in childhood. Has great significance.
Paper information:[Journal of Clinical Medicine] The Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Crocetin for myopia control in children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
