The omega-3 and retinopathy of prematurity relationship

Int J Ophthalmol. 2017

Angelakis Malamas,¹ Angeliki Chranioti,² Christos Tsakalidis,³ Stavros A Dimitrakos,⁴ and Asimina Mataftsi⁴

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the effect of omega-3 (ω-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) intake on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by reviewing the experimental and clinical trials conducted on animal models and infants. LCPUFAs demonstrate cytoprotective and cytotherapeutic actions contributing to a number of anti-angiogenic and neuroprotective mechanisms within the retina. Their intake appears to have a beneficial effect on ischemia, oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular signaling mechanisms, influencing retinal cell gene expression and cellular differentiation. ω-3 LCPUFAs may modulate metabolic processes that activate molecules implicated in the pathogenesis of vasoproliferative and neurodegenerative retinal diseases such as ROP.

Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity, omega-3.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313556/

ChooseLife : Arya Fosh, my wonderful daughter, was born at 24 weeks and 0 days. She was born with a host of arrival injuries, she developed Retinopathy Of Prematurity due to the Oxygen support required through her Chronic Lung Disease (as our daughter was prone to desaturation often the Oxygen would be left high to stabilise and leave her on 100%, which our first Consultant at Portsmouth NICU had previously said (to a Junior Doctor in my earshot) was criminal and had stuck in my mind, due to the damage it does to the eyes development of the delicate blood vessels linking the retina, Stevie Wonders ‘blindness’ came from this dynamic), so I became very prickly with nurses more interested in chatting than ensuring that she did not sit at 100% on higher supplemental Oxygen, once leading to a full argument with a lazy nurse chatting about TV whilst my daughters eyes were being harmed by her shameful actions, she had the gall to say our concerns were unfounded as she was too old to develop ROP, she hadn’t even read the notes which stated she was Grade 2 progressive to grade 3! This was at Dorchester SCBU).

During this time her mother was plied with a plentiful supply of Omega3 via Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil (Royal Ice), based on the studies of the Weston A. Price foundation. The 2:1 ratio of Omega6/Omega3 plus the Vitamin A content (in a 5:1 ratio with Vitamin A to D). This nourished our daughter via her mothers expressing milk, I am in no doubt.

We were told our daughter needed to be transferred to Southampton NICU, as her ROP was measured as grade 2 progressing towards grade 3 and eye surgery was required, this was another traumatic experience, as transferring our daughter caused desaturations and posed risk to her stability and life. Once we arrived, we were met by the Surgeon who performed a pre-surgery exam, the Surgeon reported to us that contrary to previous analysis our daughter was in fact healing and would not require surgery, a huge huge relief for us.

The surgeon stated that we must have good genes for Arya to be regressive and her eye health looked good, inside I knew it was the dietary support we had engaged which was at play, this study only goes to confirm this belief.

We were told she would never be 20:20 due to this dynamic, however she was classed as 20:20 by the age of 3!

Praise be to Omega 3! Arya will never be without it (though now via ultra fresh Flaxoil blended with Quark 1:2, as per Johanna Budwig’s sensational research).

Arya Fosh: