New Omega-3 Supplement Could Prevent Vision Loss From Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and Other Diseases

Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements

Researchers have developed a new form of omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that can cross into the eye’s retina, potentially helping to prevent visual decline linked to Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and other disorders. The newly created lysophospholipid form of DHA (LPC-DHA) was found to be more effective than the typical triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA in fish oil capsules, which cannot reach the eyes. In a study using mice, LPC-DHA increased DHA in the retina and reduced eye problems related to Alzheimer’s-like processes, suggesting a potential novel therapeutic approach for retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.

By crossing into the retina, a new DHA supplement achieves what previous ones could not.

For the first time, researchers have developed a form of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is capable of crossing into the eye’s retina to ward off visual declines related to Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes ,and other disorders.

The DHA found in fish oil capsules and other supplements is typically in a form called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA. Although TAG-DHA has benefits in other parts of the body, it does not reach the eyes because it cannot travel from the bloodstream into the retina. For the study, researchers created a new lysophospholipid form of DHA, or LPC-DHA. In studies using mice, LPC-DHA successfully increased DHA in the retina and reduced eye problems associated with Alzheimer’s-like processes.

“Dietary LPC-DHA is enormously superior to TAG-DHA in enriching retinal DHA and could be potentially beneficial for various retinopathies in patients,” said Sugasini Dhavamani, a research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This approach provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or mitigation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.”

Sugasini Dhavamani

Sugasini Dhavamani, PhD, research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Credit: Sugasini Dhavamani, University of Illinois at Chicago

Dhavamani will present the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, March 25–28 in Seattle.

In healthy eyes, DHA is concentrated in the retina, where it helps maintain photoreceptors, the cells that convert light into signals that are sent to the brain. DHA deficiency in the retina is associated with vision loss. People with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as those with diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and peroxisomal disorders, frequently have abnormally low levels of retinal DHA, and visual impairments are common as a result.

While boosting DHA can help to prevent such declines, increasing retinal DHA content has been challenging with currently available supplements. For a dietary supplement to deliver DHA to the retina, the DHA must be able to first be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina.

“Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood-retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier,” said Dhavamani. “This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA that overcomes both intestinal and blood-retinal barriers and improves retinal function.”

The researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to exhibit processes similar to those found in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. After six months, mice that were fed LPC-DHA daily showed a 96% improvement in retinal DHA content as well as preserved retinal structure and function. In contrast, TAG-DHA supplements had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.

The results suggest that LPC-DHA supplements could help to prevent Alzheimer’s-related declines in visual function. Researchers say the approach should also be helpful for other disorders in which DHA deficiency and vision impairment are common.

The dosage of LPC-DHA used in the study is equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day in humans. Since these studies were conducted in mice, further studies would be needed to confirm that LPC-DHA is safe and effective for use in humans.

Sugasini Dhavamani will present this research during the Spotlight Session on Chemical biology of natural products, nucleic acids and small molecules from 3:15–4:15 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 27, in Rooms 602–604 of the Seattle Convention Center. Contact the media team for more information or to obtain a free press pass to attend the meeting.

This work was supported by an Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant (AARG).

5 Comments on "New Omega-3 Supplement Could Prevent Vision Loss From Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and Other Diseases"

  1. so when does this new supplement come out??

  2. All I want to know is when can I buy it?

  3. Hi,
    What were the results of the conference?
    Any progress in regards to more research or when it might be available?
    Thank You.

  4. Hi,
    Would you please reply & advise when and where this will be available, preferably in Australia.
    Many thanks.

  5. Would you please reply & advise when and where this will be available, preferably in UK or internationally.
    Many thanks.

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