Green oat extract (Avena sativa L.) may protect the eyes from dryness caused by chronic sleep deprivation, according to a study by researchers at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan. The findings come from an experiment in mice and were published in the journal Food & Function.
For 16 days, the animals were subjected to partial sleep deprivation, which reduced tear production and impaired tear film stability. The researchers linked these changes to impaired function of the lacrimal and meibomian glands. The former produce tears, while the latter secrete lipids that prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.
Starting on the fifth day of the experiment, some of the mice received standardized green oat extract twice a day at different doses. Compared with sleep-deprived mice that did not receive the extract, the animals given the supplement produced more tears and had a more stable tear film.
The researchers describe the green oat extract as being rich in polyphenols. These plant compounds restored the cAMP → AQP5 signaling pathway in the lacrimal glands, improving tear secretion. At the same time, the polyphenols affected the PPAR-γ → FASN pathway in the meibomian glands, which is involved in the production of lipids that form part of the tear film.
The authors note that the findings point to potential protective properties of green oat extract against sleep-related dry eye. However, the effect has so far been demonstrated only in animals, so it cannot yet be determined whether the extract would have a similar effect in humans.
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