Omega-3 And Fish Oil In Macular Degeneration

Here are some of the recent studies on the effect of omegae 3 oils on eye health, in particular macular degeneration.

Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) and risk of macular degeneration

An article in the Archives of Ophthalmology in July 2006 looked at the association between omega 3 fatty acids on age-related maculopathy.

This study looked at 3654 patients aged 49 years or over, in a study called the Blue Mountains study in Australia. The patients still alive after 5 years, of which there were 2335, were examined in terms of onset of macular degeneration and had their dietary intake of omega 3 fats estimated.

The results showed a 40% reduction in the incidence of early age-related maculopathy (ARM) associated with fish intake at least once a week, with an odds ratio of 0.58 (95% confidence interval of 0.37-0.90). With fish consumption of 3 or more times a week the incidence of late ARM had an odds ratio of 0.25 (95% confidence interval of 0.06-1.00).

Comparing those with the highest to the lowest intake of omega 3 fatty acids, and the incidence of early ARM, the group with the highest intake of omega 3 had only 40% of the incidence of the macular degeneration compared to the group with the lowest intake.

The study stated “We found no association between incident ARM and butter, margarine, or nut consumption”

Their conclusion was that a diet high in omega 3 “suggests protection against early and late ARM in this older Australian cohort”

So it seems from this study that there’s some supporting evidence for the possible benefit between fish oils and macular degeneration.

No doubt more studies will emerge as the population is aging.

And yes, our eyes and vision are one of our most important parts of our health and daily lives.

Reference:

• Arch Ophthalmol. Dietary fatty acids and the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy. 2006 Jul;124(7):981-6

Clinical trial of omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil), acetyl-L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on treating early age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in the medical journal Ophthalmologica in 2005, revealed the findings of a trial looking at the effect of treatment with omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil), acetyl-L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on the progression of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The study looked at 106 patient with early AMD, and were divided into a placebo group and a treatment group.

The patients’ visual acuity, foveal sensitivity, and changes to the fundus of the eye were studied to see if the dietary supplements had an effect.

The results showed a “significant improvement” in the treated group by the end of the study period in all of the outcomes measured.

Also, the study showed that in the treatment group, only 1 out of 48 cases (2%) showed clinically significant worsening in their visual field mean defect, compared to the placebo group where 9 of 53 cases (17%) showed a clinically significant worsening.

The study concluded that these supplements may “may improve and subsequently stabilize visual functions, and it may also improve fundus alterations in patients affected by early AMD”

Reference:

• Ophthalmologica. Improvement of visual functions and fundus alterations in early age-related macular degeneration treated with a combination of acetyl-L-carnitine, n-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10. 2005 May-Jun;219(3):154-66