Cholesterol Medication Could Slow Vision Loss
A recent trial has highlighted that fenofibrate (Tricor), a well-established drug used for lowering cholesterol since 2004, may also significantly slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, a common eye disease associated with diabetes.
Published in the journal NEJM Evidence and presented at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., the study revealed that fenofibrate reduced the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27% compared to a placebo.
David Preiss, an associate professor at Oxford Population Health in the UK and one of the researchers involved, emphasized the importance of finding effective, widely applicable strategies to manage diabetic eye diseases. He noted that fenofibrate could potentially serve as a valuable treatment addition for individuals with diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy develops when high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the retina, leading to swelling and leakage that can impair vision and, in severe cases, cause blindness.
The trial involved 1,151 adults in Scotland who had early-stage diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either fenofibrate tablets or a placebo. Over a four-year period, the study found that 23% of those taking fenofibrate experienced worsening of their eye disease, compared to 29% in the placebo group.
Additionally, fenofibrate was found to decrease the risk of developing macular edema, a serious complication involving swelling in the retina.
The researchers plan to continue monitoring participants to assess the long-term effects of fenofibrate on overall health. These findings underscore the potential of fenofibrate as a therapeutic option for slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, pending further validation through ongoing research and larger studies.
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