Lee Swanson Research Update

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Reduce Risk of AMD

July 2008

A high intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by up to 38%, a new meta-analysis suggests.

Pooling the data from nine studies, researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia report that the benefits were most pronounced against late (more advanced) AMD, while eating fish twice a week was associated with a reduced risk of both early and late AMD.

The meta-analysis, which included 88,974 participants and 3,203 people with AMD, was published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.

Since omega-3 fatty acids, and particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), play an important role in the layer of nerve cells in the retina, “a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fish, as a proxy for long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake, has therefore been hypothesized as a means to prevent AMD,” wrote lead author Elaine Chong.

Chong and co-workers searched seven databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies. Only nine studies—three prospective cohorts, three cross-sectional, three case-control studies—met the inclusion criteria.

Combining the results showed that a high dietary intake of omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of early AMD, whereas DHA was associated with a 30% reduction.

In terms of advanced AMD, the researchers report that a high dietary intake of omega-3 was associated with a 38% reduction in risk. Consuming fish at least twice a week was linked to 24% and 33% reduction in early and late AMD, respectively.

Archives of Ophthalmology 126(6):826-833, 2008

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