The protective effect of Zn against lipid peroxidation that is observed in the retinas of alloxan-diabetic rats could be of considerable importance for halting the progression of diabetes-related retinal degeneration, since a strong positive correlation has been found between lipid peroxidation products and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in the vitreous of patients with proliferative DR [68]. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetes mellitus.