Retinopathy in the premature (ROP) is often associated with intermittent neonatal hypoxia or apnoea, conditions that affect a very high percentage (70-90%) of premature infants, i.e. below 28 weeks.
ROP, in addition to being one of the main causes of blindness afflicting the global paediatric population, can lead to a wide range of late complications, from the less severe such as myopia or strabismus, to more severe ones such as the glaucoma or retinal detachment.
While, to date, the mechanisms underlying the onset of ROP are not fully understood, it is certainly known that certain conditions increase the severity of the disease itself: the oxidative stress, a state of inflammation, poor nutrition and a hypoxic condition are just a few examples. ROP is a preventable disease and in developed countries, certain conditions have favoured its reduction, such as the proper monitoring of oxygen levels inside incubators. However, alternating conditions of hypoxia and hyperoxia may be responsible for certain alterations such as the production of angiogenic factors, which underlie the onset of ROP.
Neonatal hypoxia and retinopathy in premature infants
Neonatal hypoxia is defined as a condition of 'brief and recurrent arterial oxygen desaturation'. Following the hypoxic phase, the body may subsequently return to a normal (normoxia) or elevated (hyperoxia) oxygen level. These oxygen changes represent the main factors associated with ROP. Pre-term infants below 28 weeks may also experience polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency states (PUFA) n-3, better known as omega-three, important molecules in the proper visual function of the eye. The lack of docosahexanoic acid (DHA), in particular, is closely correlated with the onset of certain neonatal diseases as well as ROP itself.
Omega-3 and coenzinQ10 supplementation for the management of ROP: what does the latest research say?
That the omega3 are indispensable for many functions in our body is now widely supported by the scientific literature. The coenzinQ10, on the other hand, is a molecule located in all tissues that require high energy expenditure, including the eyes. This, in fact, is involved in energy production and mechanisms for preventing oxidation by free radicals. The beneficial effects of omega-3 and coenzinQ10 supplementation have recently been demonstrated in animal models, in which supplementation with these molecules contributed to the maturation and neuronal development of the retina. In addition, data have shown that the combination of omega3 and coenzinQ10 also has effects on certain ocular factors responsible for angiogenesis mechanisms such as the VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), the main molecule involved in the processes of angiogenesis and closely linked to the onset of ROP. CoenzinQ10, in particular, is able to reduce VEGF production and, together with omega3, is able to reduce neovascularisation processes and promote normalisation of the retinal layers.
Source:
Beharry KD et al. Comparative Effects of Coenzyme Q10 or n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Retinal Angiogenesis in a Rat Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy. Antioxidants 2018, 7, 160.
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
English 
Italian