Anatomical and Functional Effects of Oral Administration of Curcuma Longa and Boswellia Serrata Combination in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor nowdays represents the standard of care for diabetic macular edema (DME). Nevertheless, the burden of injections worldwide has created tremendous stress on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the oral administration of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata (Retimix®) in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) and treatment-naïve DME < 400 mm, managed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this retrospective study, patients were enrolled and divided into two groups, one undergoing observation (Group A, n 12) and one receiving one sachet a day of Retimix® (Group B, n 49). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline, then at one and six months. A mixed-design ANOVA was calculated to determine whether the change in CMT and BCVA over time differed according to the consumption of Retimix®. The interaction between time and treatment was significant, with F (1.032, 102.168) = 14.416; η2 = 0.127; p < 0.001, indicating that the change in terms of CMT and BCVA over time among groups was significantly different. In conclusion, our results show the efficacy of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata in patients with non-proliferative DR and treatment-naïve DME in maintaining baseline CMT and BCVA values over time.

Anatomical and Functional Effects of an Oral Supplementation of Bromelain and Curcugreen in Patients with Focal Diabetic Macular Edema

“…It was shown that this combined approach resulted in improved visual acuity and a reduction in DME [33]. At the same time, Guarino et al documented the effectiveness of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata in individuals diagnosed with NPDR and who were treatment-naïve, and their findings indicated that these interventions were successful in preserving baseline CMT and best-corrected visual acuity BCVA values throughout the duration of the study [34].…”