title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: Against a background of considerable epidemiological and other evidence implicating omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the negative results of the Age-Related Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) were unexpected. The possibility that the design, setting, intake or subjects of AREDS2 may not have permitted the prophylactic potential of omega-3 to be adequately demonstrated is considered. Epidemiological studies had indicated potential preventative effects of omega-3, and an earlier randomised prospective study (NAT2) showed that patients who achieved high red blood cell membrane EPA/DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid) levels were significantly protected against AMD compared with those with permanently low EPA/DHA levels. Various methodological differences between these studies are considered. NAT2 included a true placebo group, whereas control subjects in AREDS2 received a nutritional formula already found to be effective in AREDS1, but no placebo for DHA/EPA supplementation. Differences in the handling of non-compliant subjects and the formulation of the test formulations are considered. Given these considerations, and other lines of evidence from laboratory and clinical studies, closing the chapter on omega-3 in AMD prevention may be premature.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Souied
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Layana
authors.forename: Frank G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Holz
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leys
authors.forename: Rufino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delcourt
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils