Omega-3

Studies confirm what we see in our office that "a higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a decreased incidence of dry eye syndrome." 

Investigators examined the dietary intake of essential fatty acids in 32,470 female health professionals. They found that the higher the dietary ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 essential fatty acids, the lower the likelihood of dry eye, and the higher the dietary omega-3 intake, the lower the likelihood of dry eye. Conversely, they found that the lower the ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s the higher the likelihood of dry eye.*

How Does Omega-3 Work?**

• Anti-inflammatory reaction in the meibomian (oil) glands of the eye, on the surface of the eye and within the lacrimal (tear) glands.

• Stimulates tear secretion

• Improves quality of oil in protective oil layer of the tear film.

• Decreases cell death within the lacrimal (tear) gland and surface of the eye

*Relation between dietary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women. Biljana Miljanovic´, Komal A Trivedi, M Reza Dana, Jeffery P Gilbard, Julie E Buring, and Debra A Schaumberg. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 4, 887-893, October 2005.

**Anti-inflammatory therapy for dry eye. Pflugfelder SC. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2004 Feb;137(2):337-42.

Omega-3 in Our Diet

Omega-3 fatty acids have been a part of the human diet for millennia. It has been estimated that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet of early humans was about 1:2. This is considered to be a healthy balance between the two. Due to our modern diet, the ratio in the United States today has risen to 10:1.

This is not a healthy change, since omega-6 and omega-3 compete in our metabolism. We can restore this balance by eating less food that contains omega-6, or by increasing our intake of omega-3.*

*Importance of omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease. William E Connor. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000;71(suppl):171S–5S.

Other Benefits of Omega-3*, **

Omega-3 fatty acids are not only essential nutrients but also may favorably modulate many diseases, including:

  1. coronary heart disease and stroke

  2. essential fatty acid deficiency in infancy

     (retinal and brain development)

  3. autoimmune disorders

     (eg, lupus and nephropathy)

  4. Crohn's disease

  5. cancers of the breast, colon,

     and prostate

  6. mild hypertension

  7. rheumatoid arthritis

*Importance of omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease. William E Connor. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000;71(suppl):171S–5S.

** Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease. Penny M. Kris-Etherton, William S. Harris, Lawrence J. Appel. Circulation 2002;106;2747-2757

Learn more about Omega-3 and your health from the Mayo Clinic