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Moderate doses of krill oil, fish oil decrease tear osmolarity, increase tear stability
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Moderate daily doses of either krill oil or fish oil significantly reduced tear osmolarity and other symptoms of dry eye disease, according to a study.
The randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 54 participants with mild to moderate dry eye disease and was performed at the University of Melbourne eye care clinic in Victoria, Australia. Each subject received daily doses of krill oil, fish oil or olive oil placebo for 90 days.
Although krill oil and fish oil both provide omega-3 essential fatty acids, researchers have been investigating possible differences between the two in terms of bioavailability and other factors.
By study’s end, mean tear osmolarity had significantly decreased from baseline in the participants taking krill oil (–18.6 mOsmol/L; P < .001) and those taking fish oil (–19.8 mOsmol/L; P < .001) compared with those taking placebo (–1.5 mOsmol/L).
Ocular Surface Disease Index scores decreased significantly only in participants taking krill oil compared with the placebo group.
The researchers also noted relative improvements in tear breakup time and ocular bulbar redness in those taking krill oil and fish oil.
“The profound reduction in tear osmolarity was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in DED symptoms, which occurred by day 90, approximately 1 month after the normalization of tear tonicity,” the study authors wrote. “The finding of reduced tear osmolarity preceding symptomatic improvement in patients with DED corroborates previous reports and supports the utility of tear osmolarity as a responsive parameter for monitoring therapeutic efficacy in DED clinical trials.” – by Joe Green
Disclosure : Downie reports receiving grant funding from the Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Foundation and the University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher grant program.
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Deinema LA, et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.09.023.
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