Omega-3 fatty acids could prevent glaucoma
Glaucoma is an increasingly common cause of blindness in the white population in Europe, yet virtually unknown among the native Inuit population of Greenland. The cause of the condition is increased intra-ocular pressure leading to irreversible defects in the retina, and can be treated by several well-documented pharmaceuticals.
According to Norwegian company Pronova Biocare, it was hypothesised that the Inuit population were protected from glaucoma by the high intake of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet, which could induce pressure-lowering effects.
Studies with the company's EPAX 5500TG in 17 healthy individuals at the University of Copenhagen given 5g daily demonstrated a significant reduction of intra-ocular pressure even if their baseline values were normal (unpublished results). Even if the mode-of-action has not been fully revealed, omega-3 fatty acids especially eicosapentaenioc acid (EPA) serving as a substrate for the production of prostaglandins which interact with the preservation of the intraocular pressure could interfere with pressure regulation in a therapeutic way.
In a controlled clinical study Cellini et al1 treated 40 randomised patients with elevated intra-ocular pressure with 1.16g of EPA and DHA (the most abundant of the omega-3 fatty acids) or placebo. Functional analysis of the retina by so called blue-on-yellow perimetry showed a statistical improvement in the patients treated with omega-3 fatty acids compared with the controls and also an improvement in the active treatment group compared with their baseline values. The authors concluded that treatment with omega-3 fatty acids must be considered a sound supportive therapy in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma.