Effect of Niacinamide Supplementation in Glaucoma

Overview

Niacinamide is a chemical derivative of niacin, also known as vitamin B3. Through its complex role in the energetic metabolism, it has been evaluated and proven useful in several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Its effect in glaucoma, an optic nerve disorder related to a high intraocular pressure, is not well defined, and requires more research. The investigators aim to assess the physiological effects of niacinamide on specific markers (e.g., visual field parameters, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, electrophysiological markers such as the latency of the P2 wave on Flash visually evoked potentials) and on the quality of life in primary glaucoma patients.

100 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma will be enrolled from two centres (CMI profesor doctor Liliana Mary Voinea Bucharest Eye Centre and SC Optispecs Med SRL TgJiu Eye Clinic). Participant Selection P1. Inclusion criteria A subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply: * Patients aged 18 years or older; * Confirmed diagnosis of Primary Open angle Glaucoma (POAG) - following a complete ophthalmological examination (ocular tonometry, slit lamp ocular examination, visual field and Optical coherence tomography); * Subject has provided signed and dated written informed consent before admission to the study. * Subject is able to understand and comply with the protocol requirements, instructions, and protocol-stated restrictions. * Participants need to have visual acuity of Snellen ≥ 6/12 (0.5) or better. * Have performed at least two reliable VFs (SITA-Fast 24-2), with \<33% fixation losses and \<15% false positives * Those taking NAM already will undergo a 1-month washout period before commencing the study. P2. Exclusion criteria A subject will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply: * Participants must not be pregnant or breastfeeding women; * Investigator considers the subject unfit for the study as a result of medical history, physical examination, or screening tests; * VF damage worse than -10dB in the best eye and -16dB in the worse eye or a paracentral spot with -10dB or less in any eye), * IOP \>35mmHg in any eye or a mean IOP of 30mmHg or higher (two measurements), •inability to perform VFs, * those unwilling to abstain from NAM supplements, * allergic to niacinamide/niacin, * diagnosed with cancer in the last 5 years (except treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma), * a history of liver disease or stomach ulcers, * disease that prevents long-term follow-up, * neurologic or other non-glaucomatous conditions apart from cataract that may affect the VF * Patient is diagnosed with primary angle closure glaucoma; * Patient is diagnosed with secondary glaucoma (e.g. posttraumatic, postinflammatory, steroid induced, pseudoexfoliative, pigmentary, etc.); * Patient is diagnosed with very advanced glaucoma (foveal fixation threatened or absent and, thus, unreliable perimetry); * Patient is diagnosed with other significant ocular pathologies (advanced cataract, pathologic myopia, corneal ectasias or dystrophies, sever amblyopia, vitreoretinal disease, active ocular inflammation, significant sequelae of ocular inflammation); * Unreliable ophthalmological investigations and non-compliance with examinations (e.g. high percentage of false negative and false positive errors when examining the visual field). Participants will: * Take NAM every day for 1 year * Visit the clinic at 3, 6, and 12 months for check-ups and tests Outcome Measures M1. Ophthalmological parameters * Visual field parameters: * Mean deviation (MD) * Pattern standard deviation (PSD) * Optical coherence tomography parameters: peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL); * Visually evoked potential parameter: latence of P2 wave when using a flash stimulus. M2. Quality of life measurement ➔ Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 questionnaire