Phoenix
Researchers have developed a lysophospholipid (LPC) form of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that was able to cross into the retina and reduce eye problems associated with Alzheimer-like processes in mice. Sugasini Dhavamani, PhD, a research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented findings from the study at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Seattle.
Most people who lose their sight are over the age of 50, and globally the leading causes of vision impairment are:
- age-related macular degeneration
- cataract
- diabetic retinopathy
- glaucoma
- uncorrected refractive errors.
Age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy both affect the retina, which is found at the back of the eye and contains many light-sensitive cells which allow us to see.
Further studies by the team in mice bred to exhibit some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s showed that after six months of daily supplementation with LPC-DHA, these mice exhibited a 96{5bba800da6f61641b5be11d146b9c520d4b166ed14b381611bc7bbd445481300} improvement in retinal DHA levels as well as preserved retinal structure and function.
When compared to conventional DHA supplements, they found these had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function in the mice.
As this form of DHA has only been tested in mice and not humans, it is unclear whether this LPC-DHA would have the same effect in humans.