PracticeUpdate.com
RESEARCH · August 01, 2014
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TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- In this pilot study, the authors demonstrated that oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly decreased VEGF-A levels in the vitreous of patients with wet AMD who underwent anti-VEGF treatment compared with those who did not have the oral supplement.
- It remains to be determined whether the supplementation in conjunction with anti-VEGF treatment affects progression of wet AMD.
– Kathy Freeman, OD, FAAO
ABSTRACT
DESIGN
Prospective, randomized, open-label, single center, clinical trial, consecutive interventional case series.
METHODS
The study included three cohorts with wet-AMD and a control group with epiretinal membrane or macular hole (ERM/MH). Twenty wet-AMD patients being treated with anti-VEGF were randomized to daily supplementation of antioxidants, zinc, and carotenoids with (Group 1, n=10) or without (Group 2, n=10) omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid). They were compared to an anti-VEGF treatment naïve wet-AMD (Group 3, n=10) and an ERM/MH (Group 4, n=10) groups. Primary outcome was vitreal VEGF-A levels (at the time of anti-VEGF injection). Secondary outcomes were plasma VEGF-A and central foveal thickness (CFT). Patients with new submacular hemorrhage or any other treatment within 3 months were excluded. Final analyses included 9, 6, 7, and 8 patients in groups 1 to 4, respectively.
RESULTS
Patients receiving omega-3s (Group 1) had significantly lower levels of vitreal VEGF-A (141.11 ± 61.89 pg/mL) when compared to Group 2 (626.09 ± 279.27 pg/mL, p= 0.036) and Group 3 (735.48 ± 216.43 pg/mL, p= 0.013), but similar levels to Group 4 (235.81 ± 33.99 pg/mL, p= 0.215). All groups showed similar values for plasma VEGF-A and CFT measurements.-
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that omega-3 supplementation combined with anti-VEGF treatment is associated with decreased vitreal VEGF-A levels in wet-AMD patients.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
Omega-3 Supplementation Combined With Anti-VEGF Lowers Vitreal Levels of VEGF in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration