Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Possible with Omega-3 Fish Oil

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

This is demonstrated by the research conducted by William Christen and colleagues at Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA), published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology. According to the study, the effectiveness of Omega-3s – particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – is so significant that it reduces the probability of developing this disease by as much as 45%. The result is even more significant considering that, as stated by the authors of the study, no effective preventive method has been identified for those who have not yet shown symptoms of the disease or are in the early stages of the disorder. However, the benefits of Omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids on blood vessels, where they perform a strong anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and antithrombotic action, help maintain or even improve blood flow to the eye, countering a disorder that, by affecting the central area of the retina, can cause significant declines in visual abilities.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Omega-3: Scientific Evidence

The Boston researchers' study involved 38,022 women whose health was monitored over a period of ten years. During this long period, participants filled out questionnaires about their eating habits. The result showed that women who consumed the highest amounts of Omega-3 in the form of DHA had a 38% lower probability of developing age-related macular degeneration and that high doses of EPA also had a similar effect, reducing the risk of developing the disorder by 35%. Furthermore, the effectiveness of Omega-3 supplements in reducing the risk is comparable to the daily consumption of fish, which reduces the risk of this form of macular degeneration by 42%. The authors explained that this effect is independent of other risk factors, and based on the results obtained, they concluded that the regular consumption of DHA and EPA is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of age-related macular degeneration. For this reason, taking Omega-3 fatty acids can be useful in preventing the disease.

Source:

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