Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34960000›Full record

Observational studyNutrients2021

A Pilot, Phase II, Observational, Case-Control, 1-Month Study on Asthenopia in Video Terminal Operators without Dry Eye: Contrast Sensitivity and Quality of Life before and after the Oral Consumption of a Fixed Combination of Zinc, L-Carnitine, Extract of Elderberry, Currant and Extract of Eleutherococcus.

Gemma Caterina Maria Rossi, Luigia Scudeller, Federica Bettio, Giovanni Milano

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Nutrients, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Can Rhodiola rosea supplementation mitigate digital eye strain? A triple-blinded placebo-controlled study.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Combination ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gemma Caterina Maria RossiSurgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3519-2420
Luigia ScudellerClinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P. le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Federica BettioSurgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Giovanni MilanoSurgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The aims of the study were to investigate the ability and effectiveness of an oral intake of a fixed combination of zinc, L-carnitine, elderberry extract, black currant and Eleutherococcus extract in controlling the symptoms of eyestrain in videoterminal (VDT) users and to record its effects on contrast sensitivity. A single-center, phase II, observational, case-control, 1-month study in VDT workers without dry eye disease was carried out. Demographics and number of actual hours at VDT/day were taken into account. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including assessment of contrast sensitivity, and completed the computer vision symptom scale questionnaire at baseline and one month later. A total of 30 Caucasian subjects adhered to the required inclusion criteria and completed the study; 15 subjects were treated (T) and 15 were controls (C). All clinical data at baseline were similar in both groups (

Indexed as

AsthenopiaCarnitineComputer TerminalsDry Eye SyndromesEleutherococcusPlant ExtractsRibesSambucusVisual AcuityZincAdministration, OralAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedCarnitinePlant ExtractsZinccontrast sensitivityCOVID-19dietdry eyeeyelifestylenutraceuticsocular surfacequality of lifeVDTvideo display terminal

Identifiers

PMID34960000
PMCPMC8705792
OpenAlexW4200221243

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.