MyVisionTest News Archive
Jan 13, 2009
AREDS: Fish oil consumption cuts risk of AMD progression
A new research report from the AREDS study finds that fish oil consumption decreases the risk of progression to advanced stages of both wet and dry AMD.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was a National Institutes of Health–sponsored study designed to assess the clinical course, prognosis, and risk factors of AMD. AREDS examined the relationship of dietary intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) with progression to advanced AMD in 1837 participants. Dietary intake was estimated with a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire developed for AREDS.
Participants reporting the highest consumption of fish oil were approximately 30% less likely than their peers reporting the lowest fish oil consumption to develop advanced AMD by the end of the 12-year follow-up period. Results for central geographic atrophy and neovascular AMD were similar; respective multivariate odds ratios were 0.65 and 0.68.
Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites have the capacity to act on processes implicated in AMD pathogenesis. Although inferences are constrained by the observational nature of this research, biologically credible explanations for relationships between fish oil and AMD exist.
The researchers conclude that because the concentration of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the retina is modifiable by and dependent on dietary composition, these nutrients may represent an easily implemented approach to decreasing the risk of AMD progression.
AREDS2 is a 5-year, 4000-person clinical trial that is currently underway to examine the effect of fish oil supplementation on the risk of AMD progression.
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU: This is additional evidence that points to omega-3 consumption as a safe and effective means of decreasing the risk of progression for all patients with AMD. Unlike the AREDS vitamin/mineral supplement -- which is only effective for a narrow range of patients with AMD, has the potential for undesirable side effects, and is contraindicated for smokers -- fish oil consumption has no serious adverse effects and appears to be effective in slowing the progression of AMD for a broad range of persons with the disease. We will have to await the results of AREDS2 to have a prospective, interventional, randomized clinical trial to actually prove the benefit of fish oil for AMD. But the existing evidence is strong enough that I recommend fish oil for all my patients with AMD.
Read more...
Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(1):110-112
Tags: AMD, fish
A new research report from the AREDS study finds that fish oil consumption decreases the risk of progression to advanced stages of both wet and dry AMD.The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was a National Institutes of Health–sponsored study designed to assess the clinical course, prognosis, and risk factors of AMD. AREDS examined the relationship of dietary intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) with progression to advanced AMD in 1837 participants. Dietary intake was estimated with a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire developed for AREDS.
Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites have the capacity to act on processes implicated in AMD pathogenesis. Although inferences are constrained by the observational nature of this research, biologically credible explanations for relationships between fish oil and AMD exist.
The researchers conclude that because the concentration of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the retina is modifiable by and dependent on dietary composition, these nutrients may represent an easily implemented approach to decreasing the risk of AMD progression.
AREDS2 is a 5-year, 4000-person clinical trial that is currently underway to examine the effect of fish oil supplementation on the risk of AMD progression.
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU: This is additional evidence that points to omega-3 consumption as a safe and effective means of decreasing the risk of progression for all patients with AMD. Unlike the AREDS vitamin/mineral supplement -- which is only effective for a narrow range of patients with AMD, has the potential for undesirable side effects, and is contraindicated for smokers -- fish oil consumption has no serious adverse effects and appears to be effective in slowing the progression of AMD for a broad range of persons with the disease. We will have to await the results of AREDS2 to have a prospective, interventional, randomized clinical trial to actually prove the benefit of fish oil for AMD. But the existing evidence is strong enough that I recommend fish oil for all my patients with AMD.
Read more...
Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(1):110-112
