Dry eye syndrome: fish oil and antioxidants, an aid for the condition

Omega 3 and antioxidant supplements relieve the symptoms of dry eye syndrome and change the composition of tears in patients with the disorder, whether mild or moderate.

This was reported in a study, published in the journal Molecular Vision in recent months, and carried out by researchers at the University of Valencia (Spain).

A widespread eye disease

Dry eye syndrome (DES), is one of the most common conditions in ophthalmology, and is characterized by a number of symptoms. The most common are redness, itching, foreign body sensation, pain, and blurred vision.

The condition can be caused by deficient tear production or loss of tears through evaporation.

Dry eye syndrome usually strikes around the age of 60. The disorder can be triggered by several factors such as environmental pollutants, air conditioning, excessive computer use, hormonal changes or medications .

Many of the studies on this condition are directed in identifying in patients' tears, certain substances such as oxidant and antioxidant molecules, antibodies, inflammation signal molecules and hormones.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of eye diseases. Some molecules derived from omega-3s, the eicosanoids, may exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while those derived from omega-6s act as proinflammatory substances.

The tears of DES sufferers are different from those of healthy subjects

The study involved 90 participants: 35 healthy subjects (control group) and 55 diagnosed with DES, including 22 patients with the mild form and 33 with the moderate form.

All participants had taken three capsules a day, for 3 months, containing a combination of antioxidants and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Using a special nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR S) method, the researchers analyzed the metabolic profile of each subject's tears before and after supplementation.

This method helps to determine and identify the structure of the components of a substance. With this technique, in fact, it is possible to examine body fluids and detect very small substances.

The results of the analysis revealed that the tears had a different metabolite profile between the two groups, and changed before and after supplementation.

Specifically, about 50 substances were identified, including cholesterol, N-acetylglucosamine, glutamate, amino-n-butyrate, glucose, and formate before supplementation, and choline and acetylcholine after supplementation.

The same patients also showed improvements in symptoms characteristic of DES after 3 months; the main ones included dry eye, 'irritation, itching, foreign body sensation, photophobia, and eye fatigue.

In addition, 18% of patients had reported improved quality of life, and they felt better emotionally.

Antioxidants and omega-3s to counter DES

According to the researchers, these data indicate that DES induces changes in the type of chemical compounds contained in tears, which can be modified with adequate doses of antioxidants and polyunsaturated essential fatty acids.

Source: 

Carmen Galbis-Estrada, Maria Dolores Pinazo-Durán, Sebastián Martínez-Castillo, José M. Morales, Daniel Monleón, Vicente Zanon-Moreno. "A metabolomic approach to dry eye disorders. The role of oral supplements with antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids" Molecular Vision 2015; 21:555-567