Positive Health Online

Abstract

MERLE and COLLEAGUES, (1)Ophthalmology Department, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, University Paris Est  Créteil, Créteil, France and Collaborators: Allaire C, Bassols A, Belabbas K, Brault D, Brouquet Y, Castagnet  S, Crié A, Gaudino I, Gawrilow P, Lablache-Combier M, Leveziel N, Mechai N, Morineau G, Orlic-Pleyer N, Paccou B, Pumariega N, Querques G, Siou-Mermet R, Turquois I  studied the associations of serum, red blood cell membranes (RBCM) and dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Background

The researchers assessed the associations of serum, red blood cell membranes (RBCM) and dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methodology

The researchers included 290 patients of the Nutritional AMD Treatment 2 Study (NAT2) with neovascular AMD in one eye and early AMD lesions in the other eye, and 144 normal vision controls without AMD. Dietary intake of seafood was estimated by food frequency questionnaire. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) composition in serum and RBCM were determined by gas chromatography from 12-hour fasting blood samples and was expressed as percentages of total fatty acids profile. Logistic regressions estimated associations of neovascular AMD with dietary intake of seafood and circulating n-3 LC-PUFAs.

Results

Dietary oily fish and seafood intake were significantly lower in AMD patients than in controls. After adjustment for all potential confounders (age, sex, CFH Y402H, ARMS2 A69S, and ApoE4 polymorphisms, plasma triglycerides, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and family history of AMD), serum EPA was associated significantly with a lower risk for neovascular AMD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.77; P = 0.005). Analysis of RBCM revealed that EPA and EPA+DHA were associated significantly with a lower risk for neovascular AMD (OR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.13-0.47; P < 0.0001 and OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29-0.94; P = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusion

The RBCM EPA and EPA+DHA, as long-term biomarkers of n-3 dietary PUFA status, were associated strongly with neovascular AMD and may represent an objective marker identifying subjects at high risk for neovascular AMD, who may most benefit from nutritional interventions. (www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn number, ISRCTN98246501).

References

Merle BM(1), Benlian P, Puche N, Bassols A, Delcourt C, Souied EH; Nutritional AMD Treatment 2 Study Group. Circulating omega-3 Fatty acids and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 55(3):2010-9. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-13916. Mar 28 2014.

Comment

Further research assessing the relationship between omega-3 PUFA and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is of paramount importance.