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Large-scale study of seniors shows omega-3 fatty acids may lessen AMD severity
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — National Institutes of Health researchers looking at data from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 of more than 4,200 seniors found that those reporting the highest intake of omega-3 fatty acids had the lowest reported rating of AMD severity.
At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting here, J.R. Chang, MD, and colleagues reported that "dietary DHA/EPA was inversely related to AMD score in energy-adjusted comparisons of participants reporting highest vs. lowest quintile intake."
There 4,203 patients in the study; they had a baseline mean age of 73 years, and 57% of the patients were women. All patients had good visual function at baseline, but the majority had risk factors for progression to advanced AMD, according to the poster.
This data supports previous studies that have demonstrated an inverse relationship between the dietary intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and AMD. The richest sources of omega-3 are oily fish and fish oil supplements. While we await results from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 as to whether or not supplementation with DHA and EPA will influence the progression of AMD, I am recommending increased oily fish consumption to my patients at risk for AMD progression. For those patients who choose to not consume fish, I suggest the addition of a high quality fish oil supplement. These products provide consistent dosing while minimizing the potential risks associated with fish consumption such as mercury, PCB and dioxin contamination.
– Mitchell S. Fineman, MD
Associate
professor of ophthalmology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
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