Fatty acid does not delay eye condition

By April Clarkson, | Health | 0 Comments

Treatment with vitamin A and the fatty acid DHA did not retard the progression of retinitis pigmentosa.
Around one person in 4,000 around the world has retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the eye where there is a defect in the light-gathering cells of the retina. Previous work shows that vitamin A can retard the decline in retinal function. A team at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, USA, reports on whether the addition of the fatty acid DHA to this treatment can add any benefit.

They studied 221 patients with retinitis pigmentosa already on vitamin A. They were given either 1,200 milligrams a day of DHA or a placebo. There were no significant differences between the two groups after four years. Further analysis showed that DHA did benefit a sub-group of patients - those not taking vitamin A therapy at the start of the trial - for the first two years of the trial. The researchers conclude that vitamin A is certainly required for all with retinitis pigmentosa but the addition of DHA will only benefit a few.