Dietary Omega -3 Fatty Acids and Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration: The Eureye Study

Abstract

Purpose:: To investigate whether oily fish and omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid- DHA- and eicosapentaenoic acid -EPA) in the diet of European elderly people is associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD).

Methods:: Participants in the seven country EUREYE study underwent fundus photography, and completed a food frequency questionnaire. Questionnaire data were converted to nutrients (including EPA and DHA) using food composition tables and adjusted for total energy intake. Survey logistic regression was used to investigate the association of quartiles of EPA or DHA with NV-AMD.

Results:: Dietary intake data and fundus images were available in 105 cases with neovascular AMD and in 2173 controls without any features of early or late AMD. In confounder adjusted analyses, eating oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week was associated with a halving of the odds of NV-AMD (OR=0.47, 95%CI 0.33-0.69, p=0.003). Compared to the lowest quartile there was a significant trend for decreased odds with increasing quartiles of either DHA or EPA. Odds ratios in the highest quartiles were OR=0.32, 95%CI 0.12-0.90, p=0.04 for DHA and OR=0.29, 95%CI 0.12-0.74, p=0.02 for EPA.

Conclusions:: Regular consumptions of marine oils may protect against neovascular AMD in older individuals.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • nutritional factors • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment