Prevention of age-related macular degeneration: it's possible with Omega 3 fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids significantly decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

This is shown by research conducted by William Christen and colleagues at Harvard Medical School (Boston, United States), published in the journal Archives of Ophtalmology, according to which theeffectiveness of Omega-3s - in particular,docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - is so high that they reduce the probability of developing this disease by as much as 45 percent. The result takes on even greater value taking into account the fact that, as the authors of the research themselves report, to date no effective preventive method has been found for those who have not yet shown symptoms of the disease or are at an early stage of the disorder. But the benefits oftaking omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA on blood vessels, towards which they have a marked anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and antithrombotic action, helps to maintain or, even, improve blood flow in the eye, counteracting a disorder that, by affecting the central area of the retina, can cause severe decreases in visual abilities.

Age-related macular degeneration and Omega-3: the scientific evidence

The study by Boston researchers involved as many as 38,022 women whose health status was monitored over a 10-year period. During this long period, the participants filled out questionnaires regarding their eating habits. The result was that women who consumed the highest amounts of Omega-3 in the form of DHA were 38 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration and that high doses of EPA also had a similar effect, reducing the risk of running into the disorder by 35 percent. Not only that, theeffectiveness of Omega-3 supplements in reducing risk is comparable to that of daily fish consumption, which decreases the risk of this form of macular degeneration by 42 percent. The authors explained that this effect is independent of other risk factors and, based on their results, concluded that regular consumption of DHA and EPA is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in preventing the disease.

Source:

1. Christen WG, Schaumberg DA, Glynn RJ, Buring JE, "Dietary n-3Fatty Acid and Fish Intake and Incident Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women," Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Jul;129(7):921-9