Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids for dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common disease, and have an adverse effect the physical, functional, and psychological quality of life. It is a multifactorial disorder characterized by the loss of tear film homeostasis, in which self-perpetuating vicious cycle leads to deterioration of function and inflammation of the lacrimal functional unit. Hence, treatment strategies should be aimed at the interruption of the vicious inflammatory cycle and alleviation of ocular surface inflammation. Anti-inflammatory therapies have been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of the disease. Evidence indicates that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may contribute to reinforcement of innate anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and systemic and topical administration of PUFAs may help modulate ocular surface inflammation. In the present review, the authors will introduce the results of clinical and experimental studies to elucidate the mechanism, efficacy, and safety of systemic and topical supplementation with PUFAs as an alternative therapeutic strategy for DED. This review will also include discussion regarding current perspectives, including evidence-based recommendations and possible side effects of PUFAs supplementation. The review of the literature suggests that PUFAs supplementation can be a viable option for the treatment of DED, although further studies are needed for establishment of treatment guidelines.

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The Role of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids in Dry Eye Disease

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology ◽

10.29328/journal.ijceo.1001008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 055-059 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Faulkner WJ

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Essential Fatty Acids ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Omega 3

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Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Nonspecific Typical Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11050942 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 942 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sheng-Chu Chi ◽

Hsin-I Tuan ◽

Yi-No Kang

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Short Term Treatment

To investigate the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in patients with dry eye disease (DED), a multifactorial inflammatory disorder, we searched Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of PUFAs in patients with DED before March 2019. Two reviewers independently abstracted data of tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test, osmolarity, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI). We conducted pairwise meta-analysis using means and standard deviations (SDs) in a random-effects model for continuous outcomes. Thirteen eligible RCTs with 1782 patients with nonspecific typical DED were included. Patients who received PUFA treatment without other eye medications exhibited greater improvements in TBUT (MD = 1.80; p = 0.001), Schirmer test scores (MD = 0.50; p < 0.001), osmolarity (MD = −15.95; p < 0.001), and OSDI scores (MD = −10.19; p < 0.001) than those who received placebo treatment. However, the effects of PUFAs on TBUT (p < 0.001) and OSDI scores (p = 0.03) weakened with treatment duration. PUFAs are effective in treating nonspecific typical DED, particularly as a short-term treatment, with relatively few adverse events. Therefore, in real-world clinical practice, PUFA supplements are worth being suggested to patients with nonspecific typical DED who are not concurrently using other topical or systematic eye medications.

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Circulating and Dietary Omega‐3 and Omega‐6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Incidence of CVD in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.113.000506 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Marcia C. de Oliveira Otto ◽

Jason H. Y. Wu ◽

Ana Baylin ◽

Dhananjay Vaidya ◽

Stephen S. Rich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Ethnic Study ◽

Omega 6

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Omega-6 and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Inammatory Processes

Chronic Inflammation ◽

10.1201/b12696-26 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 336-353

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Omega 6

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Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Impact on Health and Disease Status

Life and Science ◽

10.37185/lns.1.1.85 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Samina Akbar ◽

Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti ◽

Rida Fatima Saeed ◽

Asma Saleem Qazi

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Disease Status ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Omega 6 ◽

Health And Disease

Over the last decades, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been largely explored not only for their nutritional value but also for the numerous biological functions and therapeutic effects. The serum and erythrocyte levels of PUFAs depend on the genetic control of metabolism as well as the dietary intake and are considered to reflect the health and disease status of an individual. Two families of PUFAs, omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6), have gained much attention because of their involvement in the production of bioactive lipid mediators and therefore, a balanced omega-6/omega-3 ratio is crucial in maintaining the overall health of an individual. Omega-3 PUFAs, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) have been shown to exert beneficial effects, possibly due to their lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective effects, whereas omega-6 fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) exhibit the opposite properties. Even though, numerous epidemiological studies and clinical interventions have clearly established the effectiveness of omega-3 PUFAs in various pathological conditions including dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, some controversies do exist about the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs and need to be clarified. Larger clinical trials with extended follow-up periods are required along with a careful dose selection, in order to confirm the clinical significance and efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs as therapeutic agents.

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