Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish intake and risk of age-related macular degeneration

  • Hong Jiang
  • , Xin Shi
  • , Yahui Fan
  • , Duolao Wang
  • , Baoyu Li
  • , Jin Zhou
  • , Cheng Pei
  • , Le Ma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS. Epidemiologic studies are inconsistent regarding the association of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and/or fish intake with risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) incidence and progression. The objective was to determine these associations by conducting a meta-analysis of available studies.

METHODS. Three electronic databases were searched for studies that quantified dietary omega-3 PUFA and/or fish intake from inception to December 2020 without language restriction. Three investigators independently assessed for inclusion and extracted data. Study-specific risk estimates were combined using random-effects model. Potential dose-response associations were explored with the use of generalized least-squares trend estimation.

RESULTS. 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Higher dietary intakes of omega-3 PUFA was significantly associated with 14% (relative risk [RR]: 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77, 0.96) and 29% (RR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.91) lower risk of early and late AMD, respectively. The dose-response analysis showed a 6% and 22% decrease in the risk of early and late AMD for each additional 1  g/d omega-3 PUFA intake. For individual omega-3 PUFA, the intake of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid was inversely associated with lower AMD risk, whereas no association was found for the alpha-linolenic acid. Consistent inverse associations were also found between fish intake and AMD. The pooled RRs comparing extreme categories of fish intake were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.90) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.85) for early and late AMD risk, respectively. Every 15 g/d of fish consumption was associated with 13% and 14% lower early and late AMD. In addition, fish intake was associated with a significantly reduced risk of AMD progression (RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS. A high intake of dietary omega-3 PUFA or fish was associated with a reduced risk of developing of AMD, which further supports that consumption of omega-3 PUFA-rich foods may be a new avenue nutritional approach to preventing AMD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5662-5673
Number of pages12
JournalClinical Nutrition
Volume40
Issue number12
Early online date11 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Fish
  • Meta-analysis
  • Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

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