A new form of omega-3 fatty acids may prevent vision loss due to diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other diseases, according to a study.

In healthy eyes, the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulates in the retina and its deficiency is associated with vision loss. People with Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration often have abnormally low levels of DHA in the retina, resulting in poor vision.

While DHA supplementation can help prevent this decline, increasing retinal DHA has been challenging with available supplements. DHA is found in fish oil capsules and other supplements, usually in the triacylglycerol (TAG) form of DHA. Although TAG-DHA has benefits elsewhere in the body, it does not reach the eyes because it cannot pass from the blood to the retina.

Researchers have developed a new lysophospholipid form of DHA (LPC-DHA) that can penetrate the retina to prevent visual impairment. In mouse studies, LPC-DHA increased retinal DHA by 96% and reduced eye problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease-like processes.

The study was presented by University of Illinois School of Medicine Associate Professor Dawamani Sugashini at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Seattle.

Source: RES-IPE