Abstract:
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Currently, the treatment involves the use of glucocorticoids or a VEGF antagonist, which are “off-label” at present. However, the conventional method of drug discovery and development is a time-consuming process that requires more than a decade of meticulous research and huge financial support. While there are a few effective small organic molecules against DR that were identified many years ago, nutraceuticals - naturally available functional foods containing vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids - can also help delay the progression of some diseases.