Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to have numerous beneficial effects, owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. From a metabolic standpoint, the mitochondria play a fundamental role in cellular homeostasis, and oxidative stress can affect their functioning. Indeed, the mitochondria are the main source of ROS, and an imbalance between ROS and antioxidant defenses leads to oxidative stress. In addition, aging, the decline of cellular functions, and continual exposure to light underlie many diseases, particularly those of the eye. Long-term exposure to insults, such as UV light, visible light, ionizing radiation, chemotherapeutics, and environmental toxins, contribute to oxidative damage in ocular tissues and expose the aging eye to considerable risk of pathological consequences of oxidative stress. Ample antioxidant defenses responsible for scavenging free radicals are essential for redox homeostasis in the eye, indeed, eye tissues, starting from the tear film, which normally are exposed to high oxygen levels, have strong antioxidant defenses that are efficient for protecting against ROS-related injuries. On the contrary, instead, the trabecular meshwork is not directly exposed to light and its endothelial cells are poorly equipped with antioxidant defenses. All this makes the eye a target organ of oxidative damage. This review focuses on the role of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human eye, particularly in such pathologies as dry eye, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, in which dietary PUFA supplementation can be a valid therapeutic aid.
Highlights
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential to the proper functioning of the human organism, as they are fundamental elements of neurons, nerve terminals, cell membranes, and myelin.Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential for the proper functioning [1] and development of the brain [2]
The aim of this review is to evaluate the possible role played by PUFA in counteracting oxidative damage, in the main diseases of the eye
According to this theory, aging and age-related diseases are the result of damage due to the free radicals produced by an imbalance between their formation and the antioxidant defenses [24] (Figure 1)
Summary
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential to the proper functioning of the human organism, as they are fundamental elements of neurons, nerve terminals, cell membranes, and myelin. DHA can be obtained directly from the diet or synthesized in the body from α-linolenic acid [5] They are preferentially incorporated as structural components into membrane phospholipids [6]. In the disc membrane of retinal photo receptors, DHA contributes 50% of the total fatty acid content of the phospholipids and accounts for 75–100% of the fatty acids [8]. It can, influence neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, neurite growth, synaptogenesis, and membrane fluidity. Influence neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, neurite growth, synaptogenesis, and membrane fluidity It improves the speed of signal transduction and neurotransmission and improves cognitive function [9]. It is known that DHA protects against neuroinflammation [11], probably because it produces an increase in cAMP in dendritic cells, thereby reducing the production of proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ, and increasing the production of anti-inflammatory factors, such as IL-10 [12]
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