What comes to mind when you think of omega-3 fatty acids? You may know that these compounds are responsible for the "brain food" label widely applied to fish. You might also attribute omega-3s with memory support, mood elevation and more. Now, researchers have unveiled yet another potential benefit of incorporating this compound into your diet.
NutraIngredients USA recently reported on a new study from the Opthamlos Research and Educational Institute in Cyprus that has linked low omega-3 consumption with the risk and severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
According to the National Eye Institute, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States for people over the age of 50, and is almost impossible to notice in its early stages because the obscurity develops so gradually. Though it doesn't result in complete blindness, macula degeneration can cause eyesight to become blurred and distorted.
Dry AMD, or geographic atrophy, involves the degeneration of certain cells in the macula that direct visual details to the brain. This typically occurs in the late stages of AMD. Currently, there is no treatment for this degree of decline, though researchers have found that omega-3 supplements may lead to some improvement. NutraIngredients USA states that scientists saw a substantial improvement in all of the participants with dry AMD who took part in a four-month supplement program.
Further studies are required to better understand this correlation, but given the documented health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in other areas, it may not hurt to seek out more of these compounds. Click here to read information about our omega-3 fatty acid supplements.