Abstract
Significance:
Supplementing diet with a novel combination of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids significantly improved symptoms in extremely symptomatic participants with dry eye disease (DED).
Purpose:
To determine the effect of daily intake of a novel combination of essential fatty acids on signs and symptoms of DED.
Methods:
Participants with moderate to severe DED were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-masked parallel group study. Participants ingested either the treatment supplement containing omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (1200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], 300 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], 150 mg gamma-linoleic acid [GLA]) or the placebo (coconut and olive oil) daily for 3 months. To determine compliance, Omega-3 Index blood tests were conducted. At baseline, 1- and 3-months the following assessments were conducted: OSDI and SANDE questionnaires, non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear osmolarity, ocular redness, surface staining, Schirmer test and meibography.
Results:
50 participants (mean baseline OSDI score 52.2 ± 16.5) completed the study: 24 randomized to treatment, 26 randomized to placebo. While there was an improvement in OSDI score at 3-months for both groups (treatment -13.4 points, p = .003; placebo -7.8 points, p = .022), participants with baseline OSDI scores >52 demonstrated an even larger significant improvement in symptoms with the treatment at 3-months compared to baseline (n = 13, -20.8 points, p = .002). There were no significant changes in any of the ocular assessments at 1- or 3-months (all p > .05). After 3-months, Omega-3 Index increased by 34% in the treatment group (baseline: 5.3 ± 0.8, 3-months: 8.0 ± 2.1, p < .001) and did not change in the placebo group (baseline: 4.8 ± 0.8, 3-months: 4.8 ± 0.6, p = .948).
Conclusions:
Supplementation with EPA, DHA and GLA resulted in a significant and clinically meaningful improvement of dry eye symptoms in extremely symptomatic participants with DED (OSDI ≥52).
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