Nutritional Supplements and Age-related Macular Degeneration – Focus on Omega-3 Fatty Acids

2012 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Eric H Souied ◽  

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss for which treatment options are limited. The socioeconomic benefits of prevention of AMD are enormous. While considerable observational evidence supports an association between dietary fats and AMD, the relation between specific types of fat and AMD has been unclear. Recent research has focused on the ω-3 polyunsaturated acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The diets of industrialised nations contain higher levels of saturated fats, trans fatty acids and ω-6 fatty acids and less ω-3 fatty acids than they did in the past. This imbalance may have important implications for retinal health. Several observational studies have found that consumption of oily fish and high dietary intakes of DHA and EPA are associated with a reduced risk of developing AMD. Recent studies evaluating nutritional supplements containing ω-3 fatty acids for the treatment of AMD suggest a potential beneficial effect but further research in this area is warranted.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niyazi Acar ◽  
Bénédicte M. J. Merle ◽  
Soufiane Ajana ◽  
Zhiguo He ◽  
Stéphane Grégoire ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 111-111
Author(s):  
Kingsley Kalu ◽  
Angelica Ly ◽  
Charles McMonnies ◽  
Jayashree Arcot

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin (L + Z) and omega-3-essential fatty acid(EFA) among a selected population of Australian based adults and to examine the effect of specified risk factors for age-related macular degeneration(AMD) on those levels. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 70 adults aged 19–52 years was carried out. Demographic data were obtained using an online self-administered questionnaire while dietary intakes were estimated using USDA's 24 hours recall questionnaire, the Victorian Cancer Council(Australia) food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric characteristics were obtained using a body composition analyzer. Dietary intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3-EFA and anthropometric indices against the risk of AMD were established using descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation. Results The mean age of the population was 29.9 ± 8.1years with 51% men and 49% women. Women had a higher intake of L + Z (1908.6 μg/day versus 1032.8 μg/day) and alpha-linolenic acid(ALA) compared to men(1.7 ± 1.1 g/day versus 1.6 ± 1.2 g/day). Men consumed more omega-3-EFA than women (433 ± 397.1 mg/day versus 365 ± 210.7 mg/day). L + Z levels were higher among people of Middle Eastern and South Asian origin (>4000 μg/day) in the 19–25years age group. People of Middle Eastern, South East Asian and South Asian had the highest intake of omega-3-EFA(>500 mg/day) at ages 19–25, 26–32 and 34–52years respectively. Women aged 34–52years with a family history of AMD had higher levels of L + Z(>2500 μg/day) while women aged 26–32years with a family history of AMD had higher levels of ALA(>3 g/day). Ethnicity and L + Z were correlated (P = −0.456, P < 0.02). Higher levels of intake of L + Z (>4000 μg/day) were seen in participants aged 34–52years with a 5–10years residence in Australia. Participants who had less than 5–10years of residency had higher levels of omega-3-EFA(>500 mg/day) for ages 26–32years while those aged 34–52years who had less than 5years of residency had higher ALA(>4 g/day). Conclusions Intake levels for L + Z vary significantly among participants. Culturally specific dietary habits could feasibly influence the levels of intake of L + Z. Intake levels of omega-3-EFA were met. This study provides detailed intake levels of L + Z and omega-3-EFA for the ‘at-risk’ AMD group. Funding Sources No funding source.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Montserrat-de la Paz ◽  
M. C. Naranjo ◽  
B. Bermúdez ◽  
S. López ◽  
R. Abia ◽  
...  

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a medical condition of central loss vision and blindness. Numerous studies have revealed that changes on certain dietary fatty acids (FAs) could have useful for AMD management. This review summarizes the effects of dietary omega-3 long-chain PUFAs, MUFAs, and SFAs, and lipoproteins on AMD. Findings are consistent with the beneficial role of dietary omega-3 long-chain PUFAs, while the effects of dietary MUFAs and SFAs appeared to be ambiguous with respect to the possible protection from MUFAs and to the possible adverse impact from SFAs on AMD. Some of the pathological mechanisms associated with lipoproteins on AMD share those observed previously in cardiovascular diseases. It was also noticed that the effects of FAs in the diet and lipoprotein on AMD could be modulated by genetic variants. From a population health perspective, the findings of this review are in favour of omega-3 long-chain FAs recommendations in a preventive and therapeutic regimen to attain lower AMD occurrence and progression rates. Additional long-term and short-term nutrigenomic studies are required to clearly establish the role and the relevance of interaction of dietary FAs, lipoproteins, and genes in the genesis and progression of AMD.


2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric H. Souied ◽  
Tariq Aslam ◽  
Alfredo Garcia-Layana ◽  
Frank G. Holz ◽  
Anita Leys ◽  
...  

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