Is docosahexaenoic acid supplementation effective in non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

Abstract

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of 2‐year supplementation with a highly concentrated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) product with antioxidant activity on nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). A prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was performed. A total of 170 patients with diabetes were randomly assigned to the DHA group (n = 83) or the placebo group (n = 87). NPDR was diagnosed by biomicroscopic examination with a non‐contact slit lamp and classified into mild, moderate and severe stages, monitoring the macular status with oct spectral domain. Patients in the DHA group received a nutritional supplement rich in DHA triglycerides (1050 mg/day), and those in the placebo group received olive oil capsules Results: There were improvements in serum HbA1c levels in both groups, and the change to milder stages of the disease was greater in the DHA group, although not statistically significant.Although in our study group, the protective role of nutraceutical supplementation with DHA in mild stages was less evident, the evidence is encouraging and allows us to speculate about the protective role of DHA supplementation in non‐early stages of diabetic retinopathy, in which the most relevant biomarkers of inflammatory stress can act as a more effective therapeutic target for nutraceutical supplementation.