Efficacy of N-Acetylcarnosine in the Treatment of Cataracts
Randomised controlled trialHumansTopicalWith N-acetylcarnosine (carnosine prodrug) 1% eye drops
This study tested carnosine together with N-acetylcarnosine (carnosine prodrug) 1% eye drops. Its results cannot be assigned to carnosine alone. More combination studies.
- Design
- Randomised controlled trial
- Subjects
- 49 people (76 eyes): 26 people (41 eyes) N-acetylcarnosine, 13 people (21 eyes) placebo, 10 people (14 eyes) no drops
- Dose used in the study
- 1% N-acetylcarnosine eye drops twice daily
- Duration
- 6 months (trial 1) and 24 months (trial 2)
- What was measured
- Best-corrected visual acuity, glare testing, slit-image and retro-illumination photography with digital image analysis of lens opacity.
What the authors reported
At 6 months, 90% of treated eyes improved in best-corrected visual acuity and 88.9% improved in glare sensitivity; 41.5% improved on image analysis (image ratio 0.86 versus 1.04 in controls, p < 0.001). At 24 months the differences persisted (p < 0.001) and no treated eye had worse vision, while control eyes declined. No ocular or systemic adverse effects were reported.
Limits of this study
Small trial. Controls were a mix of placebo drops (13 people) and no drops (10 people). Organised, conducted and supported by Innovative Vision Products, the product's maker, and several authors are affiliated with it. A 2017 Cochrane review could not verify the design and found no convincing evidence. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 12001824 · doi:10.2165/00126839-200203020-00004
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.