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Effects of Dietary Intake and Lifestyle on Eye Health and...
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Effects of Dietary Intake and Lifestyle on Eye Health and Ophthalmic Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 4106

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mohsen Sharifzadeh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
Interests: eye health; retina; ophthalmic diseases; optics; solid state physics; biomedical imaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The connection between diet and eye health is a growing area of interest, with significant implications for preventing and managing ophthalmic diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Among the hundreds of carotenoids identified in nature, only three—lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin—are known to accumulate in the macula of the human eye, where they act as powerful antioxidants and protective pigments. These macular pigment carotenoids are critical for neutralizing oxidative stress, reducing light-induced damage, and improving visual function.

This Special Issue invites contributions exploring the biochemical, clinical, and therapeutic implications of dietary components such as lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, and other nutrients in promoting ocular health. Submissions can include original research, reviews, and clinical studies investigating the impacts of carotenoids and other dietary factors on macular health and the progression of ophthalmic diseases. To advance our understanding of these topics, we encourage the development of evidence-based dietary recommendations and interventions for protecting vision and improving quality of life.

We welcome your valuable contributions to this Special Issue and look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Mohsen Sharifzadeh
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eye health
  • ophthalmic diseases
  • age-related macular degeneration
  • diabetic retinopathy
  • glaucoma
  • visual function

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3653 KB  
Article
Changes in Quality of Life Among Glaucoma Patients Following Six Months of Niacinamide Supplementation
by Constantin Alin Nicola, Maria Cristina Marinescu, Anne Marie Firan, Georgica Tartea, Mihaela Simona Naidin, Radu Constantin Ciuluvica, Marina Daniela Dimulescu, Nicoleta Mirela Voicu, Carmen Marinela Mihailescu, Andreea-Daniela Meca, Maria Bogdan and Adina Turcu-Stiolica
Nutrients 2025, 17(17), 2775; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172775 - 27 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Glaucoma is the primary cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with enormous impact on quality of life and activities of daily living. Since one pathogenic mechanism of glaucoma is mitochondrial dysfunction at the retinal ganglion cell level, niacin has been proposed as an [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Glaucoma is the primary cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with enormous impact on quality of life and activities of daily living. Since one pathogenic mechanism of glaucoma is mitochondrial dysfunction at the retinal ganglion cell level, niacin has been proposed as an adjuvant treatment, with encouraging results. The objective of this prospective, non-randomized, single-arm clinical trial was to investigate the effect of oral supplementation with niacin on the quality of life of a cohort of glaucoma patients in Romania. Methods: Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma, under topical hypotensive treatment, were evaluated before and after a 6-month period of daily administration of 500 mg of oral niacinamide. Evaluation involved a complete ophthalmological exam and QoL quantification using the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) Questionnaire. Results: We found strong evidence that niacin supplementation for 6 months led to a statistically significant improvement in QoL scores among glaucoma patients (mean difference = −2.10, 95% CI: [−2.89, −1.32], p < 0.0001), including central and near vision (mean difference = −2.16, 95% CI: [−3.91, −0.4], p = 0.017), peripheral vision (mean difference = −2.66, 95% CI: [−0.23, −0.08], p < 0.001), and the glare and dark adaptation (mean difference = −5.24, 95% CI: [−0.33, −0.14], p < 0.001). In addition, B3 treatment resulted in a significant reduction in intraocular pressure in both eyes over 6 months (mean difference = 0.53, 95% CI: [0.21, 0.86] in the left eye and mean difference = 0.36, 95% CI: [0.04, 0.68] in the right eye), indicating potential clinical benefits. Conclusions: The observed GQL-15 score reductions suggest that B3 may be of benefit in glaucoma management. Further research with larger sample sizes and placebo-controlled designs is needed to confirm B3 potential impact on disease progression and quality of life. Trial Registration at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT07007260. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Dietary Intake and Lifestyle on Eye Health and Ophthalmic Diseases)
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Review

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15 pages, 564 KB  
Review
Associations Between Nutritional Factors, Obesity and Ocular Diseases: A Narrative Literature Review
by Corina Georgiana Bogdănici, Camelia Margareta Bogdănici, Irina Andreea Pavel, Cosmin Victor Ganea, Vlad Constantin Donica and Elena Mihaela Cărăușu
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3798; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233798 - 3 Dec 2025
Abstract
Background: Nutritional imbalances significantly affect ocular physiology, contributing to dry eye disease, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and optic neuropathies. This review summarizes recent evidence on how micronutrient deficiencies and obesity influence eye health. Methods: A narrative search was performed in [...] Read more.
Background: Nutritional imbalances significantly affect ocular physiology, contributing to dry eye disease, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and optic neuropathies. This review summarizes recent evidence on how micronutrient deficiencies and obesity influence eye health. Methods: A narrative search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect (last 10 years). Human studies evaluating associations between micronutrients, dietary patterns, obesity, and ocular diseases were included. Out of 843 records, 50 studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: Deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E, C, and B-complex were consistently linked to ocular surface inflammation, retinal oxidative stress, cataracts, AMD, and nutritional optic neuropathies. Altered levels of zinc, copper, selenium, and magnesium were associated with impaired photoreceptor function, glaucoma risk, and retinal degeneration. Obesity emerged as an independent risk factor for AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma through mechanisms involving oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. Evidence from AREDS/AREDS2 supports targeted antioxidant supplementation in intermediate AMD. Conclusions: Adequate nutritional status and metabolic balance play a critical role in preserving ocular health. Early detection and correction of deficiencies may prevent or slow the progression of several eye diseases. Further high-quality trials are needed to define optimal nutritional recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Dietary Intake and Lifestyle on Eye Health and Ophthalmic Diseases)
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20 pages, 1002 KB  
Review
Diet, Exercise, and Lifestyle in Glaucoma: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives
by Akiko Hanyuda, Satoru Tsuda, Noriko Himori, Kota Sato, Naoki Takahashi and Toru Nakazawa
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3369; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213369 - 27 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1933
Abstract
Glaucoma is a major ocular neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with prevalence projected to exceed 110 million by 2040. Although lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only proven treatment, glaucoma arises from a complex interplay of genetic, local, [...] Read more.
Glaucoma is a major ocular neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with prevalence projected to exceed 110 million by 2040. Although lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only proven treatment, glaucoma arises from a complex interplay of genetic, local, and systemic factors—including oxidative stress, vascular dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors may influence these pathogenic pathways. In this review, higher dietary nitrate from leafy greens is consistently associated with lower primary open-angle glaucoma risk, aligning with nitric-oxide-mediated endothelial support and more stable ocular perfusion pressure. Flavonoids (anthocyanins and flavanols), carotenoids (lutein/zeaxanthin), and B vitamins have strong biological rationale for glaucoma prevention but have limited support from long-term, large population-based studies. The effect of polyunsaturated fats on glaucoma remains inconsistent and warrants source-(plant vs. animal) and substitution-based analyses. Consistent protective effects of aerobic exercise and high-quality sleep may be associated with favorable metabolic profiles and ocular perfusion, potentially mitigating retinal ganglion cell loss. Conversely, smoking and alcohol use are frequently coupled with poorer diet quality (e.g., lower vegetable intake) and heightened oxidative stress, which may exacerbate glaucomatous neurodegeneration. However, much of the current literature is constrained by cross-sectional designs, reliance on self-reported food frequency questionnaires, and insufficient use of structural endpoints such as retinal nerve fiber layer imaging. This review focuses on the potential of lifestyle modification and future directions in prevention and treatment strategies for glaucoma, highlighting the need for large-scale, multi-ethnic, genotype-stratified longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials to establish causality and define optimal intervention strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Dietary Intake and Lifestyle on Eye Health and Ophthalmic Diseases)
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