The scientific evidence for omega-3 fatty acids having the beneficial properties necessary to prevent blindness is promising. High concentrations of omega-3s have been found in the eye's retina, contributing to mounting evidence that the nutrient is essential to eye health. The types of blindness studied in relationship to omega-3 as a possible preventive agent include retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Eye benefits have been documented from eating oily fish; researchers are currently examining the possible benefits of omega-3 supplementation.
Eating Oily Fish
An August 2008 article in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" investigated dietary oily fish and prevention of AMD. There are two forms of AMD -- wet and dry. Wet AMD is the main culprit for vision loss in the elderly and is the third largest cause of blindness worldwide. The researchers discovered that Europeans who consumed oily fish once a week were 50 percent less likely to acquire wet AMD. Europeans who consumed 300 mg or more per week were 70 percent less likely to develop AMD. No eye-related benefits were observed from eating non-oily white fish.
Testing the Oily Fish Connection
Researchers reporting in the December 2010 issue of "Ophthalmology" investigated to see if consuming oily fish could help prevent AMD in Americans. The researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine collected food intake information from 2,391 participants aged 65 to 84 years who lived along Maryland's eastern shoreline. After the dietary assessment was completed, the participants were tested for AMD. Researchers found that those with the most advanced cases of AMD were significantly less likely to consume omega-3 fish and seafood.
Pathway for Vision Benefits
The February 2011 issue of "Science Translational Medicine" profiled a report by Harvard Medical School researchers on the effect omega-3 metabolites have on blood vessels. Specifically, when omega-3s are metabolized, they produce a chemical named 4-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid or 4-HDHA. The researchers reported that 4-HDHA reduces irregular blood vessel growth that is known to lead to retinopathy. The researchers noted that omega-3 supplementation costs about $10 per month as compared to the $4,000 a month it costs for conventional retinopathy treatment.
Testing Omega-3 Supplements
Researchers reporting in the February 2007 issue of "BMC Ophthalmology" investigated the efficacy of a supplement containing a combination of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids in helping patients with dry AMD. The supplement contained 240 mg DHA and 360 mg EPA in a formula that also included antioxidants and zinc. The trial lasted for six months and enrolled 73 subjects with dry AMD in at least one eye. At the end of the trial, 77 percent of subjects had improved. The researchers call for additional tests on the role of omega-3s in restoring eye health.
References
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Oily Fish Consumption, Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Intakes; Cristina Augood, et al.; August 2008
- "Ophthalmology"; The Impact of Fish and Shellfish Consumption on AMD; Bonnielin Swenor; December 2010
- "Science Translational Medicine"; 5-Lipoxygenase Metabolite 4-HDHA Is a Mediator of the Antiangiogenic Effect; Przemyslaw Sapieha, et al., February 9, 2011
- "BMC Ophthalmology" Tozal Study: an Open Case Control Study of an Oral Antioxidant and Omega-3 Supplement; Francis E. Cangemi; February 2007
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