Serum Concentration of Lycopene in Normal and Glaucoma Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We measured serum lycopene concentration and compared it in normal subjects, normal tension glaucoma (NTG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. METHODS: We investigated serum lycopene concentration on 226 subjects, which were divided into 3 groups group 1 with 136 normal subjects, group 2 with 24 NTG patients, group 3 with 66 POAG patients. Serum concentration of lycopene was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Mean age was 64.1+/-9.2 years old in group 1, 56.4+/-1.2 years old in group 2, 53.8+/-5.3 years old in group 3. Sex ratio (malefemale) was 11 in group 1, 1.181 in group 2, 0.941 in group 3 respectively. Serum lycopene concentration was 6.44+/-0.34 microgram/dl in group 1, 2.55+/-0.44 microgram /dl in group 2, 2.17+/-0.27 microgram /dl in group 3 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum lycopene concentration was significantly lower in NTG, POAG patients than normal subjects (P<.05). Further nutritional survey is necessary for new modality of treatment of glaucoma.