Effect of antioxidants on ocular blood flow and endothelial function in an endotoxin-induced inflammatory model in humans

Background Oxidative stress, which refers to cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been implicated in many disease processes. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that daily intake of a combination of the antioxidants beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and copper may retard the progression of age related macular degeneration by reducing ROS [1]. We investigated the effect of the AREDS combination of antioxidants on retinal and choroidal blood flow and on retinal vascular reactivity under normal conditions and in a standardized experimental inflammatory model in humans.