Doctor claims omega-3 fatty acids can protect women against dry eye syndrome

• Getting the right balance of essential fatty acids in the diet may help women ward off dry eye syndrome -- a painful eye condition caused by insufficient tears.
• In a recent study, researchers questioned more than 32,000 women about the foods they ate and assessed their intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in walnuts and fish, and omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in cooking oils, butter and margarine.
• Omega-3 fatty acids appeared to have a protective effect.
• The women with the highest levels of omega-3 in their diets had a 20 per cent lower risk of developing dry eye syndrome than those with the lowest intake of omega-3.
• Consumption of tuna, the major dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, also appeared to lower the risk of dry eye syndrome.
• Those who ate five or more servings per week reduced their risk of dry eye by 68 per cent compared with women who ate one serving per week.
• Other types of fish that are not as rich in omega-3 fatty acids or are not as widely consumed did not provide this protective effect.
• Lead study author Dr. Biljana Miljanovic, of the divisions of preventive medicine and aging at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says one of the important factors was the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.
• Now, because of shifts in eating habits and food production methods, many people eat 15 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids.
• These fats are called "essential" because the body needs them to survive.
• Omega-6 fatty acids are used to make substances involved in inflammation, which may play a role in the development of dry eyes.