A recent study conducted in the United States has shown that increased intake of Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, EPA and DPA is associated with a significantly reduced risk of age related macular degeneration, one of the major causes of loss of sight in the elderly. The conclusion of this study found out that regular intake of DHA, EPA and fish, lowers the risk of developing AMD by up to 45%.
The macula is the oval-shaped highly pigmented yellow spot near the centre of the retina of the human eye. It has a diameter of around 5mm and is often histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells. Near its centre is the fovea, a small pit that contains the largest concentration of cone cells in the eye and is responsible for central, high resolution vision.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (DMA) is one of the major causes of vision loss affecting about 1.7 million people in the USA alone with an additional 7.3 million having early signs of the disease. Currently about nine million US adults aged 40 and older show signs of AMD and the incidence is expected to rise by about 50% over the next two decades. Previous population studies have shown that higher intake of fish and omega-3 LC-PUFAs may be associated with reduced incidence of advanced AMD, but few studies have looked at the impact on early AMD.
One key product that is rich in omega-3 fish oil is Efalex Active 50+. Efalex Active 50+ combines omega-3 fish oil with key nutrients known for their beneficial role in maintaining a healthy brain structure, function and performance. The formulation is made up of DHA-rich fish oil, phosphatidylserine (PS), folic acid, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin E as well as the herbal leaf extract from Gingko biloba, which is also reported to maintain short-term memory.
The study, conducted by Christen WG and supported by the National Institutes of Health and completed at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, included 38,022 women aged 45 years or older and initially free of AMD who were followed for over 10 years.
Eating habits were assessed at the start of the study to measure the quantity of fish and omega-3 consumed and yearly questionnaires and follow up medical examinations tracked the development of AMD. Following analysis of the data, participants were ranked into three groups depending on their intake. Women who consumed the most DHA compared to women who consumed the lowest amount had a 38% lower risk of developing AMD. Higher EPA intake was associated with a 35% lower risk, DPA with a 25% lower risk and eating one or more servings of fish per week compared to less than one serving per month was associated with a 42% reduction.