Fish oil supplementation may hold the key to treating one of the world’s leading causes of blindness, study suggests.
Researchers have developed a new form of omega-3 fatty acid that can penetrate the eye’s retina to counteract the vision loss associated with Alzheimer’s, diabetes and other diseases.
In a study in mice, the supplement was first absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream and then transferred from the bloodstream to the retina. It prevents age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The mice given the new dietary supplement showed an almost 100 percent improvement in the amount of important omega-3, known as DHA, in their retinas after six months.
The lab-made version of the omega-3, known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can be absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream and then travel from the bloodstream to the retina, unlike the kind that currently makes up standard fish oil. supplements on the market. the market.
The omega-3 the team developed could be packaged into a dietary supplement similar to those found on pharmacy shelves, potentially helping more than 20 million Americans with vision problems such as aging and diabetes.
Scientists have been studying for years whether dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids can slow vision loss, especially AMD, a common cause of severe vision loss in the elderly.
There are currently no treatments for AMD, and doctors will have to give older patients glasses or other visual aids.
The compound, commonly found in fish and krill oil supplements, usually comes in a form called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA, which cannot get to the retina from the bloodstream.
Professor Sugasini Dhavamani from the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago and lead author of the report said: “Dietary supplementation LPC-DHA is much better than TAG-DHA in retinal DHA accumulation and may be beneficial in various retinopathies in patients . ‘
“This approach offers a new therapeutic approach to prevent or reduce retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.”
Research on the specific omega-3 acid in humans has yet to begin. But the promising early results suggest that more than 23 million people — the total number of Americans with retinopathy related to diabetes or age-related macular degeneration — could benefit from a newly formulated dietary supplement.
People with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as people with diabetes, a group of rare eye diseases called retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and peroxisomal disorders that affect metabolism, often have abnormally low levels of retinal DHA, leading to impaired vision.
While omega-3 fatty acids are available in supplement form, they also occur naturally in many foods, including salmon and other fish, leafy greens, whole grain bread, and walnuts.
Researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to show processes similar to those seen in early Alzheimer’s disease.
After six months, mice given daily LPC-DHA showed a 96 percent improvement in retinal DHA levels and preserved retinal structure and function.
vision problems. joint pain. Dementia…what can fish oil not work against?
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to increase brain power in children, reduce inflammation of the arteries that can lead to heart attacks, and strengthen the part of the brain responsible for memory and protect against dementia, among other positive claims.
Meanwhile, TAG-DHA supplementation had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.
In healthy eyes, DHA is concentrated in the retina, where it helps maintain photoreceptors, the cells that convert light into signals sent to the brain. Healthy levels of DHA in the retina protect against damage from bright light and oxidative stress.
Recent research has also shown that people with higher blood levels of DHA have better protection against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Professor Dhavamani said: “Increasing retinal DHA in clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because the specificity of the blood-retinal barrier is incompatible with the specificity of the gut barrier.
“This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA, which crosses both gut and blood-retinal barriers and improves retinal function.”
Her LPC-DHA dose was equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3s per day in humans, roughly the same range recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.
The researchers, who will present their findings at this week’s annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, said more research is needed to confirm that LPC-DHA is safe and effective for human use.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
