Dietary Marine ω-3 Fatty Acids and Incident Sight-Threatening Retinopathy in Middle-Aged and Older Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Prospective Investigation From the PREDIMED Trial
Aleix Sala-Vila, Andrés Díaz-López, Cinta Valls-Pedret, Montserrat Cofán, Alfredo García-Layana, Rosa-María Lamuela-Raventós, Olga Castañer, Vicente Zanon-Moreno, Miguel A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Estefanía Toledo, Josep Basora, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Dolores Corella, Enrique Gómez-Gracia, Miquel Fiol, Ramón Estruch, José Lapetra, Montserrat Fitó, Fernando Arós, Luis Serra-Majem, Xavier Pintó, Emilio Ros
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a devastating complication of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The retina is rich in long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCω3PUFAs), which are substrate for oxylipins with anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties. Experimental models support dietary LCω3PUFA protection against DR, but clinical data are lacking.
To determine whether LCω3PUFA intake relates to a decreased incidence of sight-threatening DR in individuals with type 2 diabetes older than 55 years.
In late 2015, we conceived a prospective study within the randomized clinical trial Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED), testing Mediterranean diets supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts vs a control diet for primary cardiovascular prevention. The trial was conducted in primary health care centers in Spain. From 2003 to 2009, 3614 individuals aged 55 to 80 years with a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were recruited. Full data were available for 3482 participants (48% men; mean age 67 years).
Meeting the dietary LCω3PUFA recommendation of at least 500 mg/d for primary cardiovascular prevention, as assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
The main outcome was incident DR requiring laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy, and/or antiangiogenic therapy confirmed by an external adjudication committee.
Of the 3482 participants, 48% were men and the mean age was 67 years. A total of 2611 participants (75%) met target LCω3PUFA recommendation. During a median follow-up of 6 years, we documented 69 new events. After adjusting for age, sex, intervention group, and lifestyle and clinical variables, participants meeting the LCω3PUFA recommendation at baseline (≥500 mg/d) compared with those not fulfilling this recommendation (<500 mg/d) showed a 48% relatively reduced risk of incident sight-threatening DR, with a hazard ratio of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.31-0.88; P = .001). This association was slightly stronger for yearly updated LCω3PUFA intake (relative risk, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82; P = .007).
In middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes, intake of at least 500 mg/d of dietary LCω3PUFA, easily achievable with 2 weekly servings of oily fish, is associated with a decreased risk of sight-threatening DR. Our results concur with findings from experimental models and the current model of DR pathogenesis.
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN35739639.
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 292. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 22 September 2023.
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