AUTHOR=Bucolo Claudio , Musumeci Maria , Salomone Salvatore , Romano Giovanni Luca , Leggio Gian Marco , Gagliano Caterina , Reibaldi Michele , Avitabile Teresio , Uva Maurizio G. , Musumeci Salvatore , Drago Filippo 

TITLE=Effects of Topical Fucosyl-Lactose, a Milk Oligosaccharide, on Dry Eye Model: An Example of Nutraceutical Candidate

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2015.00280

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2015.00280

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> Colostrum has been proposed to treat severe dryness and problematic eye lesions showing a beneficial effect. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of 2-fucosyl-lactose, a natural sugar present in the human colostrum, in an experimental dry eye.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Dry eye was induced in adult male New Zealand albino rabbits by topical administration of 1% atropine. Tear volume (Schirmer’s test), tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal staining and tear osmolarity were assessed. Fucosyl-lactose eye drops was instilled at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and, 1%).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> After 24 h from first atropine administration, tear volume and TBUT values were significantly improved in groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose in a dose-dependent manner. Tear volume increased from 5.25 to 10.75 mm and TBUT values from 8.75 to 34.5 s with 0.01% or 1% 2-fucosyl-lactose treatment, respectively. No changes were observed in terms of corneal staining among the all groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose. Atropine instillation caused an increase of tear osmolarity (428 mOsm/L), which was reversed by topical treatment with 2-fucosyl-lactose at all doses.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The present study demonstrated that 2-fucosyl-lactose, a human milk oligosaccharide, has protective effect on tear film stability.</p>