Can the Oral Consumption of G. Kola Lower Intraocular Pressure?

Intraocular pressure (IOP) may be lowered by the oral ingestion of G. kola, providing therapeutic benefit to low-income patients, according to a study published in Acta Ophthalmologica.

In this randomized, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over design study, 46 healthy participants were randomized to receive 100 mg/kg body weight bitter kola in a 200 ml solution on their initial visit (Group A) or ingested 200 ml of water (Group B). On the subsequent visit, treatment was reversed between the groups.

Mean IOP decreased by 7.9% at 45 minutes after treatment with G. kola, 18.2% at 90 minutes, and 20.6% at 135 minutes.

The authors concluded that oral treatment with G. kola could potentially provide patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in low‐income settings therapeutic benefit.

Reference
Ilechie AA, Jeduah MM, Abraham CH, et al. Oral consumption of Garcinia kola (Bitter kola) lowers intraocular pressure [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 10]. Acta Ophthalmol. 2020;10.1111/aos.14440. doi:10.1111/aos.14440