Nutrition and Supplementation
Nutrition’s Impact
Nutrition and hydration both play a role in maintaining tear film homeostasis, as evidenced by the risk of dry eye syndrome (DES) conferred by vitamin A deficiency and the increase in tear osmolarity effected by even limited whole-body dehydration (e.g., during exercise). Many dietary supplements have been proposed to ameliorate DES symptoms, including vitamins, essential fatty acids (EFA), antioxidants, herbal preparations, and others. However, only for EFA is there adequate evidential support for efficacy, particularly for ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. All patients with DES should be informed of the importance of adequate EFA intake. Sources of short chain ω-3 EFA (alphalinolenic acid) include flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and soybean oil. Long chain ω-3 EFA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) may be found in oily fish (e.g., tuna, salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel) and shellfish (both crustaceans and bivalves). Sources of &…
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Nutrition’s Impact
Nutrition and hydration both play a role in maintaining tear film homeostasis, as evidenced by the risk of dry eye syndrome (DES) conferred by vitamin A deficiency and the increase in tear osmolarity effected by even limited whole-body dehydration (e.g., during exercise). Many dietary supplements have been proposed to ameliorate DES symptoms, including vitamins, essential fatty acids (EFA), antioxidants, herbal preparations, and others. However, only for EFA is there adequate evidential support for efficacy, particularly for ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. All patients with DES should be informed of the importance of adequate EFA intake. Sources of short chain ω-3 EFA (alphalinolenic acid) include flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and soybean oil. Long chain ω-3 EFA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) may be found in oily fish (e.g., tuna, salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel) and shellfish (both crustaceans and bivalves). Sources of ω-6 EFA include vegetable oils (e.g., safflower oil, corn oil). For patients with dietary restrictions or preferences who cannot obtain optimal EFA from food, oral EFA supplements may be useful.
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