Serum omega-3 fatty acids are not associated with age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Evaluation of: Kabasawa S, Mori K, Horie-Inoue K et al. Associations of cigarette smoking but not serum fatty acids with age-related macular degeneration in a Japanese population. Ophthalmology 118(6), 1082–1088 (2011).Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment in the elderly in developed countries. Risk factors for AMD are classified into endogenous nonmodifiable factors, including genetics and environmental factors such as smoking and dietary habits. Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that dietary omega-3 long-chain fatty acids would participate to prevent from the development of AMD. The mechanisms behind this association have been poorly defined until now. Kabasawa and coworkers recently published that Japanese AMD patients did not exhibit a different serum fatty acid profile compared with Japanese controls, although the circulating levels of omega-3 fatty acids were doubled in Japanese subjects when compared with subjects in the USA – a consequence of Japanese dietary habits privileging fish consumption.