Intake of dietary LCω3PUFA is associated with a decreased risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Dietary Marineω-3 Fatty Acids and Incident Sight-Threatening Retinopathy in Middle-Aged and Older Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Prospective Investigation From the PREDIMED Trial.
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016 Aug 18. Epub 2016 Aug 18. PMID: 27541690
Aleix Sala-Vila
Importance: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a devastating complication of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The retina is rich in long-chainω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCω3PUFAs), which are substrate for oxylipins with anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties. Experimental models support dietary LCω3PUFA protection against DR, but clinical data are lacking.
Objective: To determine whether LCω3PUFA intake relates to a decreased incidence of sight-threatening DR in individuals with type 2 diabetes older than 55 years.
Design, Setting, and Participants: In late 2015, we conceived a prospective study within the randomized clinical trial Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED), testing Mediterranean diets supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts vs a control diet for primary cardiovascular prevention. The trial was conducted in primary health care centers in Spain. From 2003 to 2009, 3614 individuals aged 55 to 80 years witha previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were recruited. Full data were available for 3482 participants (48% men; mean age 67 years).
Exposures: Meeting the dietary LCω3PUFA recommendation of at least 500 mg/d for primary cardiovascular prevention, as assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was incident DR requiring laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy, and/or antiangiogenic therapy confirmed by an external adjudication committee.
Results: Of the 3482 participants, 48% were men and the mean age was 67 years. A total of 2611 participants (75%) met target LCω3PUFA recommendation. During a median follow-up of 6 years, we documented 69 new events. After adjusting for age, sex, intervention group, and lifestyle and clinical variables, participants meeting the LCω3PUFA recommendation at baseline (≥500 mg/d) compared with those not fulfilling this recommendation (<500 mg/d) showed a 48% relatively reduced risk of incident sight-threatening DR, with a hazard ratio of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.31-0.88; P = .001). This association was slightly stronger for yearly updated LCω3PUFA intake (relative risk, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82; P = .007).
Conclusions and Relevance: In middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes, intake of at least 500 mg/d of dietary LCω3PUFA, easily achievable with 2 weekly servings of oily fish, is associated with a decreased risk of sight-threatening DR. Our results concur with findings from experimental models and the current model of DR pathogenesis.
Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: https://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN35739639.
