Fish Oil Prevents Age-Related Loss Of Vision

Date: Jun-08-2012Loss of vision due to age can potentially be prevented by DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish. The study, which was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science demonstrated that lab models fed with DHA did not accumulate the toxic molecule that usually builds up in the retina with age and therefore preventing age-related loss of vision.

Yves Sauve and his team from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, declared:

"This discovery could result in a very broad therapeutic use. In normal aging, this toxin increases two-fold as we age. But in lab tests, there was no increase in this toxin whatsoever. This has never been demonstrated before - that supplementing the diet with DHA could make this kind of difference." 

The researchers are currently conducting another study investigating individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is the main cause for losing central vision, which results in blindness in individuals above the age of 50 years.

The team will be examining the participants' blood for DNA markers to determine whether people with certain genetic markers will have a better response to higher amounts of DHA in their diet compared with others and the potential reasons and mechanisms behind it.

Written By Petra Rattue

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