London: Eating oily fish twice a week may decrease the risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes, a new study has claimed.
The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, coupled with an increased lifespan, has resulted in a steady rise of disability in older individuals with diabetes.
A major concern for this population group is diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading global cause of vision loss.
The retina is rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC omega-3 PUFAs). Experimental models support dietary LC omega-3 PUFA protection against DR, but clinical data is lacking, researchers said.
Aleix Sala-Vila from Lipid Clinic in Barcelona and colleagues conducted a prospective study testing Mediterranean diets supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts versus a control diet for primary cardiovascular prevention.
The trial was conducted in primary health care centres in Spain. From 2003 to 2009, 3,614 individuals aged 55 to 80 years with a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were recruited.
Meeting the dietary LC omega-3 PUFA recommendation of at least 500 milligrammes per day (mg/d) for primary cardiovascular prevention was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
Of the participants, a total of 2,611 (75 per cent) met the target LC omega-3 PUFA recommendation. During a median follow-up of 6 years, incident DR was diagnosed in 69 of the study participants.
After adjusting for age, sex, intervention group, and lifestyle and clinical variables, participants meeting the LC omega-3 PUFA recommendation at baseline (500 mg/d or greater) compared with those not fulfilling this recommendation (less than 500 mg/d) showed a 48 per cent relatively reduced risk of incident sight-threatening DR.
Researchers found that in middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes, intake of at least 500 mg/d of dietary LC omega-3 PUFA, easily achievable with 2 weekly servings of oily fish, was associated with a decreased risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
"Our findings, which are consistent with the current model of the pathogenesis of DR and data from experimental models, add to the notion of fish-derived LC omega-3 PUFA as a healthy fat," researchers said.
The findings were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmol.
The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, coupled with an increased lifespan, has resulted in a steady rise of disability in older individuals with diabetes.
A major concern for this population group is diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading global cause of vision loss.
Aleix Sala-Vila from Lipid Clinic in Barcelona and colleagues conducted a prospective study testing Mediterranean diets supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts versus a control diet for primary cardiovascular prevention.
Advertisement
Meeting the dietary LC omega-3 PUFA recommendation of at least 500 milligrammes per day (mg/d) for primary cardiovascular prevention was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
Advertisement
After adjusting for age, sex, intervention group, and lifestyle and clinical variables, participants meeting the LC omega-3 PUFA recommendation at baseline (500 mg/d or greater) compared with those not fulfilling this recommendation (less than 500 mg/d) showed a 48 per cent relatively reduced risk of incident sight-threatening DR.
Advertisement
"Our findings, which are consistent with the current model of the pathogenesis of DR and data from experimental models, add to the notion of fish-derived LC omega-3 PUFA as a healthy fat," researchers said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Midnight Scrolling? Study Links Smartphone Use Before Bed To Higher Diabetes Risk Man Who Reversed His Diabetes And Lost 18 Kg Shares His Secret What Is Oily Fish & Here's Why You Should Have It More Often Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm Independence Day 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort On 78th Independence Day Today Delhi Airport Becomes 1st To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Status Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.