Mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were fed a diet containing LMWF (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day) or calcium dobesilate (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day) for four months to examine the protective role of the LMWF against the development of diabetic retinopathy, the production of high glucose-promoted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the proliferation of cells in microvascular endothelial cells. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.