Oily fish ‘could reduce vision loss risk’

Eating oily fish could help to reduce the risk of an eye disease that can cause vision loss, according to new research.

Scientists at the University of Melbourne found that eating lots of omega-3 fatty acids was linked with a 38 per cent reduction in the risk of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

People who ate fish twice a week were found to have a reduced risk of both early and late AMD.

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss among elderly people, affecting central vision and leaving only a degree of side vision.

To assess the affect of diet on the disease, the researchers reviewed studies published before May 2007 which evaluated fish consumption and overall omega-3 fatty acid intake for the prevention of AMD.

Nine studies were used that involved 88,974 participants, including 3,203 individuals with AMD.

The researchers say the link between omega-3 fatty acids and reduced AMD risk could be due to the role long-chain omega-3 fatty acids play in the retina of the eye.

Outer cells of the retina are continually shed and regenerated, and the study’s authors argue that deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids may therefore initiate AMD.

However they add that although their study suggests that consumption of fish and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with a lower risk of AMD, “there is insufficient evidence from the current literature, with few prospective studies and no randomised clinical trials, to support their routine consumption for AMD prevention”.

The study is published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.