Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal degenerations characterised by progressive photoreceptor loss and visual impairment. Nutritional interventions have long been explored as a potential means of modifying disease progression. This chapter reviews the evidence for dietary supplementation and its role in RP management.

Early studies suggested that vitamin A supplementation may slow retinal function decline; however, more recent analyses have not confirmed a consistent or clinically meaningful benefit, while vitamin E may be detrimental. Other interventions, including omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and antioxidant formulations, have demonstrated plausible biological mechanisms but inconsistent clinical outcomes, with reported benefits generally limited to subgroup analyses or secondary measures. Systematic reviews conclude that there is insufficient high-quality evidence to support routine nutritional supplementation in RP.

Overall, nutritional strategies cannot currently be recommended as disease-modifying therapies in RP. Future research should focus on well-designed trials, genotype-specific approaches, and clinically meaningful outcomes to determine whether targeted nutritional interventions may play a role in personalised management.