A recent retrospective cohort study indicates that curcuma-based nutritional supplements (CBNS) may be associated with a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or its progression to later stages. The research, led by Amer F. Alsoudi, MD, from Baylor College of Medicine, was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
The study, utilizing data from the TriNetX electronic health records network, included 66,804 patients taking CBNS and 1,809,440 patients not taking CBNS. The primary outcomes assessed were the relative risk (RR) of developing various forms of AMD, including nonexudative, exudative, and advanced nonexudative AMD or geographic atrophy (GA), as well as blindness and the need for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.
Analysis of AMD Risk
Results showed that patients aged 50 years or older with no prior history of AMD who were taking CBNS had significantly lower risks (P < 0.001) of developing all forms of AMD and GA. Specifically, the relative risks were 0.23 (95% CI, 0.21-0.26) for nonexudative AMD, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.07-0.17) for advanced nonexudative AMD or GA, and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.24-0.32) for exudative AMD, compared to matched patients not using CBNS.
Impact on Blindness and Anti-VEGF Therapy
The study also revealed a lower risk of blindness (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.36-0.59) and a decreased need for intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy (RR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.13-0.17), both with P < 0.001, in patients taking CBNS compared to those not taking CBNS. These findings were consistent across patients aged 60 and 70 years or older.
Progression of Early AMD
Furthermore, in patients with early nonexudative AMD, subsequent CBNS prescriptions were associated with lower rates of developing advanced nonexudative AMD or GA (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41-0.81; P < 0.001) compared to matched patients with early nonexudative AMD without a CBNS prescription record.
Conclusion and Future Research
The authors concluded that the findings suggest a potential association between CBNS use and a reduced risk of developing AMD or its progression. However, they emphasized the need for further studies to confirm these results, assess the safety of CBNS, and elucidate the potential pharmacoprotective mechanisms of CBNS in AMD.
