title: Electroretinographic effects of omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation on dry age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of high-dose oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on electroretinography and omega-3 index in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single institution, prospective, nonrandomized, noncomparative interventional case series comprising 34 eyes of 17 patients older than 50 years of age with early to intermediate age-related macular degeneration. Patients received oral supplementation with 4 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily (840 mg eicosapentaenoic acid/2520 mg docosahexaenoic acid) for 6 months. The main outcome measures included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity, change in N1 and P1 peak amplitudes on multifocal electroretinographic testing, and change in serum omega-3 index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean baseline Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected visual acuity letter score was 77 letters (Snellen equivalent of 20/32). There were no statistically significant changes in visual acuity (P = .12) or retinal function by multifocal electroretinographic testing. Serum omega-3 index increased by an average of 7.6% during the course of the study (P < .001). Study limitations included the relatively short duration of the study and small number of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term supplementation with high doses of omega-3 fatty acids does not result in any measurable changes in visual acuity or retinal function by multifocal electroretinographic testing. Dietary supplementation with 4 g of omega-3 fatty acids results in a significant increase in serum omega-3 index in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration and may provide a useful clinical measure for future studies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01258335.
authors.affiliation: Wills Eye Institute Retina Service, Mid Atlantic Retina, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gerstenblith
authors.forename: Darrell E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Baskin
authors.forename: Chirag P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Mitchell S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fineman
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid