The Role of Fish Oil in Inflammatory Eye Diseases

Abstract

Consumption of fish oil is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases and also reduces the severity of many other inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. The beneficial effects are attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish oils. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects was long thought to be by modulating the production of proinflammatory mediators, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Recent advances in research into the novel lipid mediators (resolvins, protectins, and maresins) derived from EPA and DHA and their role in the resolution of inflammation have shed new light on the pleiotropic nature of these fatty acids. In this review, we focus on the effects of EPA and DHA from fish oil in the treatment of two common inflammatory eye diseases - dry eye disease and age-related macular degeneration. Evidence from recent studies lends support to a role of fish oil in the treatment of these two eye diseases.

Resolvin D1 Modulates the Intracellular VEGF-Related miRNAs of Retinal Photoreceptors Challenged With High Glucose

“…Besides a variety of pre-clinical and clinical studies, no drugs have been approved for treatment of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) so far. Recently, treatment with ω3-PUFA and pro-resolving lipid mediators has been investigated in experimental studies (Das, 2013;Wang and Daggy, 2017;de Gaetano et al, 2018) as novel therapeutic strategy in DR. Among the pro-resolving mediators, resolvin D1 (RvD1) has emerged as the most promising alternative anti-inflammatory drug for treatment of DR.…”

Effects of Oral Supplementation with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) plus Antioxidants in Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma: A 6-Month Open-Label Randomized Trial

“…In recent years, there has been growing interest of the health benefits of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( ω -3 PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the pleiotropic actions of which may affect molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases, such as age-related macular edema [ 13 ], diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema [ 14 , 15 ], and dry eye syndrome in glaucoma patients [ 16 ]. The rationale of the use of DHA for improving retinal function is based on the inhibitory effect of DHA on the activation NF- κ B and synthesis of inflammatory cytokines [ 17 , 18 ], generation of eicosanoids and stimulation of inflammation resolving docosanoids (resolvins and protectins) [ 19 ], antiangiogenic effects of ω -3 PUFAs in human endothelial cells, and antioxidant protective effects on retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Resolvin D1 reduces mitochondrial damage to photoreceptors of primary retinal cells exposed to high glucose

“…They create an early stage of inflammation that predisposes the cells to a hormetic response in which defensive, anti‐inflammatory, and proresolving mediators and mechanisms are activated (Maisto et al, ; Rossi et al, ). Therefore, although anti‐tumor necrosis factor α and anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor are the standard anti‐inflammatory approach for DR, novel pro‐resolving mediators based strategies have been recently considered in several DR experimental models (Das, ; de Gaetano et al, ; Wang & Daggy, ). One of these strategies involves the proresolving lipid mediator RVD1.…”