Omega-3 Rich Diet Reduces Dry Eye Incidence in Women
Dry Eye: Lower Risks for Women Thanks to Fish Oil
Foods rich in Omega-3 reduce the risk of developing dry eye syndrome in women. Conversely, a diet higher in Omega-6 increases the likelihood of developing this condition. A study conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston (USA) and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1 demonstrates a link between dietary fatty acids and this disorder. According to the authors, the research results confirm what doctors had already hypothesized based on observations in daily clinical practice.
Dry Eye: A Problem of Tear Production
Dry eye syndrome is a disorder that mainly affects people over 40 years old. Contact lens users, those who spend a lot of time in front of computers, and those exposed to sun and wind are more likely to develop this condition. These situations can alter the tear film. Reduced tear production or altered tear composition leads to the following symptoms:
- feeling like there is sand in the eye;
- redness;
- pain;
- burning.
The Role of Fatty Acids
The study authors evaluated the fatty acid intake of 32,470 women aged between 45 and 84 years through food habit questionnaires. Of these women, 4.7% suffered from dry eye syndrome. The researchers determined that the incidence of the disorder is higher when the diet is characterized by a high Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio. They reached this conclusion after accounting for factors such as hormone therapy use and total fat consumption. Conversely, the risk of dry eye decreases by consuming tuna at least twice a week.
Omega-3 for Eye Health
The results of this study align with those of other research demonstrating the benefits of Omega-3 for eye health and confirm hypotheses formed by doctors based on everyday clinical observations. For example, it is known that a diet rich in these fatty acids helps counteract the progression of retinitis pigmentosa2 and that Omega-3 are useful in treating retinopathy3. Other studies have shown that Omega-3 intake, both through food and as dietary supplements, reduces symptoms of dry eye syndrome4,5. To prevent and treat the symptoms of this disorder, it is possible to:
- consume foods rich in Omega-3, such as fatty fish and walnuts;
- take dietary supplements enriched with these nutrients, such as fish oil supplements.
Source
1. Miljanović B, Trivedi KA, Dana MR, Gilbard JP, Buring JE, Schaumberg DA, “Relation between dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women”, Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Oct;82(4):887-93
2. Berson EL, Rosner B, Sandberg MA, Weigel-DiFranco C, Willet WC, “Omega-3 Intake and Visual Acuity in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A”, Arch Ophthalmol., Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1001/archopthalmol.2011.2580
3. Sapieha P, Stahl A, Chen J, Seaward MR, Willett KL, Krah NM, Dennison RJ, Connor KM, Aderman CM, Liclican E, Carughi A, Perelman D, Kanaoka Y, Sangiovanni JP, Gronert K, Smith LE, “5-Lipoxygenase metabolite 4-HDHA is a mediator of the antiangiogenic effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids”, Sci Transl Med. 2011 Feb 9;3(69):69ra12
4. Viau S, Maire MA, Pasquis B, Grégoire S, Acar N, Bron AM, Bretillon L, Creuzot-Garcher CP, Joffre C, “Efficacy of a 2-month dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids in dry eye induced by scopolamine in a rat model”, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug;247(8):1039-50. Epub 2009 May 5
5. Larmo PS, Järvinen RL, Setälä NL, Yang B, Viitanen MH, Engblom JR, Tahvonen RL, Kallio HP, “Oral sea buckthorn oil attenuates tear film osmolarity and symptoms in individuals with dry eye”, J Nutr. 2010 Aug;140(8):1462-8. Epub 2010 Jun 16
