Lee Swanson Research Update

Omega-3s Appear to Lower Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

August 2007

A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology shows that people who get a lot of omega-3 essential fatty acids are less likely to develop Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)-a common cause of blindness among older people.

Researchers found that people who ate a diet rich in omega-3s-commonly found in tuna, salmon and other oily fish-were nearly 40% less likely to develop AMD than those who ate little of this heart-healthy type of fat. Overall, eating more than one four-ounce serving of fish per week was associated with the lowest risk for AMD.

More than 4,500 men and women between the ages of 60 and 80 took part in the study. At the beginning of the study, participants filled out a questionnaire detailing the foods they ate regularly. They were all examined for AMD.

Researchers found that those who consumed the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, primarily from fish, were 39% less likely to have AMD. People who ate fish less often also seemed to experience some benefits from the omega-3s.

Researchers from the Age-Related Disease Study Group in Rockville, MD, who conducted the study, say omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of AMD in a variety of ways, such as promoting healthy blood vessel function, influencing which genes turn on and off, and reducing inflammation.

Archives of Ophthalmology 125(5):671-679, 2007

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