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By Andrea Hughes, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found in popular fish oil supplements, could help protect against blindness resulting from abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye.
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A new study, using mice as models, found increasing omega-3 fatty acids in their diets caused less initial blood vessel loss in the retina. The area with vessel loss was 40 to 50 percent smaller, meaning the omega-3 group had a 40 to 50 percent decrease in pathological vessel growth. The mice with omega-3-rich diets were compared to mice given higher amounts of omega-6 fatty acids, comparable to Americans' diets. Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in hamburgers and French fries. According to senior study author, Lois Smith, M.D., Ph.D., omega-6s are found in, "foods your mother told you were bad for you."
The three leading causes of blindness -- retinopathy of premature babies, diabetic retinopathy in adults and "wet" age-related macular degeneration -- are all caused by abnormal vessel growth. Retinopathy affects about 4 million diabetics and about 40,000 premature babies in the United States. According to the mouse study, implementing omega-3 fatty acids can decrease eye disease severity by 50 percent. Because omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the retina, even increasing omega-3s in your diet by only 2 percent can make a difference. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in coldwater fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies. It is also commonly taken in supplements.
"Many times, we find ways to help prevent these diseases is by using drugs that may have side effects. We know changing the diet so that you decrease the intake of omega-6 fatty acids and you increase the intake of omega-3s fatty acids also has other health benefits. In particular, it decreases the risk of heart disease, and it decreases the risk of death," Dr. Smith told Ivanhoe.
"We also know that this is a very safe intervention and will help people in general lead healthier lives. So it's not just that it has an effect on eye disease, but it also will have an effect on general health," she said.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Lois Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Nature Medicine, published online June 24, 2007
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