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New Form of DHA Offers Hope for Alzheimer Visual Decline
Researchers have developed a lysophospholipid (LPC) form of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that was able to cross into the retina and reduce eye problems associated with Alzheimer-like processes in mice. Sugasini Dhavamani, PhD, a research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented findings from the study at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Seattle.
Most fish oil capsules and supplements contain triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA, the research team explained. While beneficial for other parts of the body, TAG-DHA is not able to travel from the bloodstream into the retina to help with eye issues.
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“Dietary LPC-DHA is enormously superior to TAG-DHA in enriching retinal DHA and could be potentially beneficial for various retinopathies in patients,” said Dr Dhavamani. “This approach provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or mitigation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.”
To help the retina, DHA must be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross into the retina.
“Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood–retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier,” said Dr Dhavamani. “This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA that overcomes both intestinal and blood–retinal barriers and improves retinal function.”
For the study, mice bred to exhibit processes similar to those found in early-onset Alzheimer disease were fed either TAG-DHA or LPC-DHA at a dosage equal to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids in humans daily. After 6 months, retinal DHA content improved 96%, and retinal structure and function was preserved in mice that received LPC-DHA. TAG-DHA supplementation, on the other hand, had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.
Researchers believe LPC-DHA supplements could ward off visual declines related to Alzheimer disease, diabetes, and other disorders in humans as well, although further study is needed to confirm safety and efficacy.
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