This study examined whether Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in mice and in oleic acid (OA)-treated human meibomian gland epithelial cells (HMGECs), focusing on lipid accumulation, autophagy, and cellular aging via the AMPK pathway.
LBP improved OA-induced lipid accumulation and cellular aging in HMGECs by restoring the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio and enhancing autophagy flux (lipophagy); blocking autophagy with chloroquine largely reversed these protective effects, confirming the AMPK-lipophagy mechanism.
The study relies on an in vitro cell model and a mouse HFD model without clinical validation in human MGD patients; the specific LBP dose-response and long-term safety in vivo are not established; no direct clinical lipid or MGD outcome measures (e.g., meibum quality scores) are reported.
LBP is not yet ready for clinical use in MGD, but these preclinical findings suggest it may be a candidate functional food additive targeting lipid-driven meibomian gland disease. Clinicians should watch for future translational studies before considering LBP in hyperlipidemia-associated MGD management.
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