Objective

Many studies have demonstrated that DHA is essential for development of nervous system and eyes. There is evidence to suggest that DHA deficiencies increase with normal aging. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of DHA supplement on visual acuity and cognitive decline in elderly population.

Study design

A triple-blind placebo-controlled randomized repeated-measures trial.

Number of subjects

74 healthy patients aged between 45-77 years.

Study intervention

1000 mg of tuna oil comprising 252 mg DHA, 60mg EPA and 10 mg vitamin E or placebo.

Duration of the study

3 months

Results

• The supplement was found to significantly raise the plasma concentration of the DHA levels at the end of the study.
• In subjects with corrected vision, the DHA supplement significantly improved the right eye visual acuity in comparison to the placebo (F (1,22) =7.651; p=0.011; partial n (2) =0.258).

Conclusion

It was found that DHA supplementation of elderly population is associated with improved visual sharpness.

Source

Stough C, Downey L, Silber B, et al. The effects of 90-day supplementation with the omega-3 essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cognitive function and visual acuity in a healthy aging population. Neurobiol Aging.2012;33(4):824.e1-3.