title: Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the impact of a dietary supplement based on the combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients of either sex (aged 18-85 years) diagnosed with MGD according to criteria identified at a 2011 International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction participated in this randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Group A patients (controls) received an oral placebo supplement and group B patients received the oral study supplement (Brudysec(®) 1.5 g; Brudy Laboratories, Barcelona, Spain). At baseline and at 3-month follow-up, the patients completed the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire using a Spanish validated version. The Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary scores were the main outcome variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 61 patients completed the study (group A, n=31; group B, n=30). There were no significant differences in PCS and MCS scores at baseline between the two study groups, but after 3 months of treatment, significantly higher mean PCS and MSC scores were observed in patients treated with the active omega-3 dietary supplement as compared with controls (mean [standard deviation] PCS score 53.33±5.57 versus 47.46±7.31, P=0.008; mean MCS score 54.60±5.64 versus 47.80±8.45, P=0.0005). Moreover, mean differences between values at 3 months as compared with baseline were statistically significant for patients in group B (PCS score 7.14±5.81, 95% confidence interval 4.97-9.31, P=0.000; MCS score 5.96±7.64, 95% confidence interval 3.10-8.81, P=0.0002), whereas mean differences in patients assigned to group A were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary supplementation with a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants had a significant beneficial effect on HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in patients with MGD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oleñik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mahillo-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alejandre-Alba
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Alarcón
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luxan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez de Carneros Llorente
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García-Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Alfaro
keywords: Brudysec®; antioxidants; nutraceuticals; polyunsaturated fatty acids