Food for Eye Health: Carotenoids and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Abstract

Antioxidants and micronutrients play a pivotal role in maintaining ocular health status, especially age-related eye diseases. This contribution focuses on age-related eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract with oxidative stress (blue or UV light) and aging process as the common contributors. Moreover, this contribution summarizes the importance of supplementation with various micronutrients and antioxidants like carotenoids (xanthophylls and carotenes) and ω-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA) for prevention and treatment of age-related eye diseases. Many experiments have confirmed a reverse relationship exists between the intake of carotenoids and ω-3 fatty acids with the risk of age-related eye diseases like AMD and cataract. This is because lutein and zeaxanthin (macular carotenoids) have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with blue or UV light filtering property, which enhances macular pigment density. Whereas, ω-3 fatty acids (contributes to photoreceptor membrane in the retina) display antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic activities and thereby protect the retina/macular from oxidative or inflammatory damages. Taking together, carotenoids especially lutein, zeaxanthin showed superior retino protective property and thus prevent the formation of AMD (neovascular AMD) or nuclear cataract than other carotenoids or ω-3 fatty acids. Combinations of various micronutrients like carotenoids with ω-3 fatty acids also showed better retino-protective activity against AMD or cataract due to holistic property.