Cappellani Francesco, Foti Roberta, Malaguarnera Giulia, D'Esposito Fabiana, Musumeci Carlo, Rapisarda Lorenzo, Tognetto Daniele, Gagliano Caterina, Zeppieri Marco
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Division of Rheumatology, A.O.U. "Policlinico San Marco", 95123 Catania, Italy.
Nutrients. 2025 Mar 30;17(7):1207. doi: 10.3390/nu17071207.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus (DM), resulting in visual impairment and blindness. Controlling hyperglycemia is essential for avoiding and alleviating diabetic retinopathy. Nutrients and natural compounds possessing hypoglycemic characteristics present promising supplementary approaches to conventional therapies. This review assesses the influence of nutrients and natural substances on glycemic regulation and their possible effects on diabetic retinopathy.
To investigate and consolidate knowledge about nutrients and natural compounds exhibiting hypoglycemic properties and their processes in the prevention and management of diabetic retinopathy.
Extensive reviews were conducted on pertinent studies from databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selection criteria encompassed papers that examined natural substances, nutrients, or dietary supplements exhibiting effects on blood glucose levels and pathways associated to diabetic retinopathy. Principal findings were encapsulated according to their mechanisms, efficacy, and safety.
Numerous foods, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol), have hypoglycemic properties by improving insulin sensitivity and diminishing oxidative stress. Natural substances like berberine, quercetin, and flavonoids demonstrate analogous effects, influencing pathways associated with inflammation, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and angiogenesis, which are critical factors in the evolution of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The synergistic benefits of integrating natural medicines with conventional antidiabetic medications may enhance glycemic control and reduce retinal damage. The safety profiles of these therapies are predominantly positive; nonetheless, clinical trials are still constrained in both breadth and scale.
Nutrients and natural compounds are promising supplementary approaches for glycemic regulation and the therapy of diabetic retinopathy. Additional research, encompassing extensive clinical studies, is required to substantiate their efficacy, determine optimal dose, and verify long-term safety. The use of these natural substances into clinical practice may improve comprehensive management of diabetes and associated consequences.
糖尿病视网膜病变（DR）是糖尿病（DM）的一种重要微血管并发症，可导致视力损害和失明。控制高血糖对于预防和减轻糖尿病视网膜病变至关重要。具有降血糖特性的营养素和天然化合物为传统治疗提供了有前景的补充方法。本综述评估了营养素和天然物质对血糖调节的影响及其对糖尿病视网膜病变的可能作用。
研究并整合关于具有降血糖特性的营养素和天然化合物及其在糖尿病视网膜病变预防和管理中的作用的知识。
对来自包括PubMed、Scopus和Web of Science在内的数据库的相关研究进行了广泛综述。选择标准包括研究对血糖水平有影响的天然物质、营养素或膳食补充剂以及与糖尿病视网膜病变相关途径的论文。主要研究结果根据其作用机制、疗效和安全性进行了总结。
许多食物，包括ω-3脂肪酸、维生素D和多酚（如姜黄素、白藜芦醇），通过改善胰岛素敏感性和减少氧化应激具有降血糖特性。黄连素、槲皮素和类黄酮等天然物质也表现出类似作用，影响与炎症、晚期糖基化终产物（AGEs）和血管生成相关的途径，这些是糖尿病视网膜病变（DR）发展的关键因素。将天然药物与传统抗糖尿病药物联合使用的协同益处可能会增强血糖控制并减少视网膜损伤。这些疗法的安全性大多是积极的；然而，临床试验在广度和规模上仍然受到限制。
营养素和天然化合物是血糖调节和糖尿病视网膜病变治疗的有前景的补充方法。需要更多研究，包括广泛的临床研究，以证实其疗效、确定最佳剂量并验证长期安全性。将这些天然物质应用于临床实践可能会改善糖尿病及其相关后果的综合管理。
