Macular Degeneration in Women

Dietary Intake of Omega-3
Fatty Acids Now Linked With
Reduced Risk of Macular
Degeneration in Women

Regular consumption of
fish rich in omega-3 fatty
acids is associated with

a significantly reduced

risk of developing
age-related macular
degeneration in women.

Researchers posted a
report online that will

appear in the June issue of "Archives of
Ophthalmology" (JAMA/Archives) journal.

"An estimated nine million U.S. adults aged 40 years
and older show signs of age-related macular

degeneration (AMD), "An additional 7.3 million persons
have early age-related macular degeneration, which is
usually associated with moderate or no vision loss but
does increase the risk of progression to advanced
age-related macular degeneration."

Using the Women's Health Study, a research team
from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard

Medical School, Boston collected data on 38,022
women who had not been diagnosed with age-related
macular degeneration. Information on women's eating
habits was obtained via questionnaire at the beginning
of the study and included information on intake of

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and
arachidonic acid and linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acids).
During ten years of follow-up, additional questionnaires
tracked the women's eye health, with specific focus on
diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration.

During the course of follow-up, 235 cases of age-related
macular degeneration were reported. Specific analyses
that also adjusted for age and treatment assignment,
found women who consumed the most DHA compared
with women who consumed the lowest amount had a

38 percent lower risk of developing age-related macular
degeneration. Similar results were observed for higher
intake of EPA and for higher consumption of both types
of acid together.

Results for fish intake showed that consumption of one
or more servings of fish per week, when compared to
less than one per month, was associated with a 42
percent lower risk of age-related macular degeneration.

"This lower risk appeared to be due primarily to
consumption of canned tuna fish and dark-meat fish."

For omega-6 fatty acids, higher intake of linoleic acid but
not arachidonic acid was associated with an increased
risk of age-related macular degeneration, however this
association was non-significant after adjustment for other
risk factors and fats.

"In summary, these prospective data from a large
population of women with no prior diagnosis of AMD

indicate that regular consumption of DHA and EPA and
fish significantly reduced the risk of incident AMD,"

the authors conclude.

Journal Reference:

Dietary {omega}-3 Fatty Acid and Fish Intake and
Incident Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women.

Arch Ophthalmol, 2011; DOI:
10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.34

JAMA and Archives Journals (2011, March 15).

"Omega-3 fatty acid intake linked with reduced

risk of age-related macular degeneration in women."

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.