New forms of omega-3 oils that reach the retina from the bloodstream may help with vision loss associated with diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss. .
A new kind of omega-3
Scientists at the University of Illinois School of Medicine have developed a new omega-3 oil that is easily visible after ingestion.
“Omega-3 fatty acids are the type of unsaturated fatty acids found primarily in fish oils,” says Daniel Laroche, Ph.D., president of Advanced Eyecare in New York and clinical associate professor of ophthalmology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. told Epoch. times.
He emphasized that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for growth and development throughout life and should be included in everyone’s diet.
Omega-3s are important for eye health, but current prescriptions typically include Triacylglycerol-DHA Researchers claim that (TAG-DHA) is not visible after ingestion.
DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid important for maintaining healthy eyes. Our retina and brain contain the highest concentrations of DHA. can’t make amount we need to survive.
Low DHA levels are found in the retinas of patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and Alzheimer’s disease.
In this study (pdf), scientists created a new lysophospholipid form of DHA, or LPC-DHA, that increased DHA in the retina in animal studies and successfully alleviated eye problems associated with processes like Alzheimer’s disease. bottom.
“Dietary LPC-DHA is significantly superior to TAG-DHA in enhancing retinal DHA and may be potentially beneficial for a variety of retinopathies in patients,” said the Chicago Illinois study. Sugasini Dhavamani, a research assistant professor at the university’s medical school, said: said in a statement.
Dhavamani presented this work at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, March 25-28 in Seattle.
“This approach offers a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or alleviation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes,” said Dhavamani.
can prevent vision loss
The researchers tested the hypothesis that LPC-DHA is superior to currently available DHA supplements, such as fish oil and krill oil, by enriching the retina with DHA and improving the retina in early-onset animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. disease was prevented.
“For the first time, we have shown that low doses of LPC-DHA can increase retinal DHA in normal adult mice by almost 100%,” said Dhavamani.
Researchers used doses equivalent to 250 to 500 milligrams per day in humans.
Researchers have also shown that retinal DHA cannot be efficiently increased by dietary TAG-DHA or free DHA from available supplements in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings could also lead to ways to prevent other retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and AMD, which causes central vision loss or blurring.
AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults, affecting 10% of Americans over the age of 50. American Optometric AssociationAbout 20 million people over the age of 40 had AMD in 2019, according to estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
diabetic retinopathy It occurs in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and is caused by high blood sugar that affects blood flow to the retina. Without treatment, this condition leads to blindness.
Dhavamani and her team highlighted how this finding could help prevent dementia-related eye problems.
Approximately 2% of dementia cases in the United States, or 100,000 cases, were associated with visual impairment. It is projected to increase to about 250,000 by 2050. National Institute on Aging Estimate.
“We believe these studies have a significant impact on preventing Alzheimer’s disease vision loss,” the study authors wrote in their abstract. retinal abnormalities Alzheimer’s disease involves degeneration of the optic nerve and loss of nerve cells.
“In Alzheimer’s disease, these patients often have visual-spatial problems,” said Laroche, stressing that it is “a great possibility” whether these findings apply to humans.
“Does this actually help or prevent human disease?” asked LaRoche. “There are years of research left.”
DHA essential for eye health
There are several reasons why DHA is important for eye health.
According to an article in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, DHA structural parts of the retina. It is also the major structural element of the outer segment of photoreceptor cells in the retina, responsible for detecting light and transmitting visual signals to the brain.
DHA also helps maintain the fluidity and integrity of the retinal membrane. This is critical for the proper functioning of photoreceptor cells and the efficient transmission of visual information.
DHA is anti-inflammatory, in the same way; ocular inflammation damages the delicate structures of the retina and may contribute to the development of AMD. These anti-inflammatory properties may protect the retina in other ways as well.
Too little DHA in our eyes is associated with several sight-threatening conditions.
Retinal DHA is greatly reduced Conditions such as diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa, and AMD can lead to functional impairment, impaired visual development, and reduced sensitivity.
Available forms of omega-3 also benefit eye health
When asked what eye conditions currently available omega-3 supplements help with, Laroche said these oils most commonly improve eye conditions. meibomian glandlocated at the edge of the eyelid, and produces the oily part of the tear.
Improving the function of these glands can alleviate dry eye symptoms.
“Omega-3s have also been shown to help people with myopia and macular degeneration.
However, there is little evidence that omega-3s are helpful when applied directly to the eye.
“Topical omega-3s are a promising treatment for dry eye, but the scientific literature lacks evidence for topical application. Further studies in humans are needed to assess efficacy.”
