How omega 3 may prevent blindness

BOSTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Animal models indicate omega-3 "fish-body oil" may help prevent several forms of blindness, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, earlier found omega-3 fatty acids helps prevent retinopathy -- a form of blindness caused by leaking blood vessels -- in a mouse model. The researchers now suggest omega-3 may also help prevent other blood vessel-related -- neovascular -- eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetes-related blindness.

"The ability to prevent these 'neovascular' eye diseases with omega-3 fatty acids could provide tremendous cost savings," Dr. Lois Smith, the senior investigator for the study, says in a statement.

The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, also indicates the good effects of omega-3 are probably not negated by COX-inhibiters such as aspirin and NSAIDs -- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or analgesics. However, a drug used for asthma -- zileuton -- may interfere with the protective effects of omega-3.

Smith and colleagues isolated the specific compound in omega-3 fatty acid -- a metabolite known as 4-HDHA -- that helped in protecting mice from abnormal blood vessel growth.