Studies Show Saffron Spice May Help Prevent Vision Loss or Even Reverse Vision Loss in Patients Suffering from AMD
May 18, 2009
A recent press release from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science (The Vision Centre) indicates that research by Silvia Bisti, professor at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science (The Vision Centre), University of L’Aquila, Italy, has shown that saffron (a high-priced golden culinary herb made from crocus flowers) not only protects vision cells from damage, but may also act to slow and possibly even reverse vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa and other diseases causing blindness.
A clinical trial with patients suffering AMD in Rome has yielded early indications that treatment with a dietary supplement of saffron may cause damaged eye cells to recover.
Another line of animal research has found that saffron is active in affecting genetic diseases of the eye, such as retinitis pigmentosa, and offers the prospect of slowing down the progression of sight loss.
And in yet another study, saffron given to human patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration, has resulted in signs of cell recovery.
Read the full press release.
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this is not a recognized center that i have ever heard of. to suggest reversal of armd from a supplement sounds outrageous. their studies have not been published in any journal i am aware of. how can they possibly show signs of “cellular recovery”? i wouldn’t place much hope in this- does not sound scientific, but appears more directed to the consumer.
Ari
I haven’t seen where this company of doctors is trying to sell (or hawk) anything, my point being that there is so far nothing for them to make a profit out of with regard to their current findings from the research.
Aslo you should look up the authors in particular Dr Trevor Lamb
http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/org/dns/visual/index.php
Dr Lamb also appears to be an editor at the “Journal of General Physiology” this appears to be not a shabby recognition of a ‘real doctor IMHO.
SJ
i just think that when researchers state something like their product can reverse vision loss from armd, that ought to be on the front page of the nytimes if true. it is obviously not true, or at least not proven, and any legitimate researcher would never suggest such a thing. therefore, i have a low opinion of those who make such grandiose suggestions.
This seems to be an initial investigation.
To Ari Weitner: There is a paper published in IOVS ( a reputable journal publisher) , here are the links –
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2005;46: E-Abstract 171.
(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2008;49:1254-1261.)
Also, the centre is existent : http://www.vision.edu.au/
One of their investigators are actually a real doctor, an ophthtalmologist.
An article in the Daily Mail,( circulation 3.5 million) states that a British research team have done a thorough study and concluded that saffron supplement did improve sight sharpnes with a gain of another line on the sight char. However when the supplement is stopped the effect is lost. This research has no commercial affiliations
my wife has had A M D in one eye for 5 years. In spite of lack of enthusiasm of
my consultant collegues she has taken l.arge doses of lutein zeaxanthin and
vitamens without any futher changes in her condition
I will certainly obtain saffron via the net and begin treattment once I have obtained
the information of dosage used in Rome.
Johnb H Morgan M B Ch B
i suppose it cant hurt, except your wallet. unfortunately, no good proof any of these supplements work. you’ll never find info about success in respectable peer-reviewed journals- typically anecdotes or small number of cases, not double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled studies, in newspapers, websites etc., so there’s no way to know if it really works.
the only study that showed a slight decrease in dry amd converting to wet amd was in the areds study, and those supplements are easily available in the drugstore. and mind you, it only dealt with conversion from dry-wet; did not show improvement in vision of dry amd patients. we continue to wait for better drugs undergoing research, but it will be a while, im afraid.
The unfounded dispute and general disregard shown by Mr Ari’s comments crystallize what is wrong with general physicians or general ophthalmologists. Too quickly, they are, to play down any new science that they are too lazy or too reluctant to research. The old adage, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, or new science in this case, applies.
If your doctor takes this approach when you present him or her with this science then it is time to find a new physician.