9-cis Beta-Carotene-Rich Extract of Dunaliella Alga in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients

NCT07509229 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 41

Last updated 2026-04-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a natural supplement called 9-cis beta-carotene (derived from the Dunaliella alga) can improve vision and retinal function in adults with Retinitis Pigmentosa. The study will also monitor the safety of the food supplement and how it affects levels of Vitamin A-related proteins in the blood. The main questions the study aims to answer are: (1) Does taking the supplement improve light sensitivity in the retina (measured by microperimetry)? (2) Does the supplement improve electrical responses in the eye (ERG) or other visual functions like contrast and color vision? (3) How do blood levels of beta-carotene and Vitamin A change during treatment? Researchers will use a crossover design. This means every participant will receive both the active supplement and a placebo (a "dummy" pill with corn oil) at different times during the study to compare the results. Participants will take two soft-gel capsules twice a day for 3 months, undergo a 6-month "washout" period where no study capsules are taken.Then they will take the opposite capsules (either the supplement or the placebo) for another 3 months. The participants will visit the clinic 4 times over the course of 12 months for eye exams, eye imaging (like OCT), and blood tests. Participants will also receive follow-up phone calls every 6 weeks to check on their progress and health.

Conditions

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

9-cis beta-Carotene-rich extract of Dunaliella alga

Participants will be instructed to take two soft-gel capsules twice daily (total of 4 capsules per day) for a period of 90 days. Each soft-gel capsule contains oil extraction of the alga Dunaliella, which is rich in beta-carotene (composed of approximately 70% 9-cis and 30% all-trans isomers). The capsules are manufactured by Hetchyn Ingredients Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

OTHER

Placebo Corn Oil

Participants will be instructed to take two soft-gel capsules twice daily (total of 4 capsules per day) for a period of 90 days. The placebo capsules contain corn oil and are manufactured to be identical in appearance (size, color, and texture) to the active Dunaliella soft-gels to maintain masking.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sheba Medical Center

    lead OTHER_GOV

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-01
Primary Completion
2028-04-30
Completion
2029-04-30

Countries

  • Israel

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07509229 on ClinicalTrials.gov