http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/26/content_6290994.htm#
Fish-oil supplements may protect against blindness
BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A recent study has produced new evidence that
omega-3 fatty acids, found in popular fish-oil supplements, may protect against
diseases that affect retinal blood vessels, known as retinopathy, according to
media reports Tuesday.
The study, published online by the journal Nature Medicine Sunday, got the
encouraging results in tests on mice.
In the study, mice were fed diets rich in either omega-3 fatty or omega-6
fatty acids. The researchers found mice on the omega-3 diet had less blood
vessel loss in the retina than the omega-6-fed mice. The blood vessel loss was
also cut by up to a half.
The researchers will soon begin testing the effects in premature babies,
who are at risk for vision loss.
It could benefit millions of people if the clinical trials find that
omega-3 fatty acids is as effective in protecting humans against retinal
disease as the findings of this study.
Aside from fish-oil supplements, the most widely available source of
omega-3 fatty acids is coldwater oily fish (wild salmon, herry, mackerel,
anchovies, sardines). The compounds can also be made synthetically from algae
or other non-fish sources.
(Agencies)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
