5 ms·

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA has a role in diabetic retinopathy in mice

45 points by nocoder 9y ago

hannob 9y ago
"The molecule 19,20-dihydroxydocosapentaenoic acid, formed by the metabolism of a fatty acid involved in normal brain function, promotes the development of a diabetes-associated form of blindness in a mouse model." tl;dr Mice should be really careful when consuming too much omega-3 fatty acids.
qwerty456127 9y ago
Wow! So dark...
- DoofusOfDeath 9y ago
  Ah crap! You may have retinopathy! ;)
carlsborg 9y ago
* "Dietary intake of DHA (omega 3 fatty acid) is associated with several health benefits, including normal brain and eye function2. .. mice that lack the protein Mfsd2a, which transports DHA across the blood–brain barrier into the brain, develop severe retinal and brain dysfunction3" * A quick search shows that a) DHAs are vital for brain function and b) the role of Mfsd2a is known: "Mfsd2a-deficient (Mfsd2a-knockout) mice show markedly reduced levels of DHA in brain accompanied by neuronal cell loss in hippocampus and cerebellum, as well as cognitive deficits and severe anxiety, and microcephaly. " https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13241?WT.feed_name=subjects_phospholipids https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13241?WT.feed_name=sub... * OP paper says: DHA and DHA oxidation produced epoxide metabolites "are associated with beneficial retinal effects" and an enzyme called sEH degrade them to form 19,20-DHDP, "suggesting that sEH has a causal role in diabetic retinopathy." (which is "a major cause of blindness in middle age"). * Then .. plot twist: And then "Hu and colleagues showed that it is the production of 19,20-DHDP, rather than the reduction in DHA or epoxide molecules, that is the key trigger of vascular degeneration. * "19,20-DHDP acts through a different mechanism from that of another player in retinopathy — vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein is induced under low-oxygen conditions.." * So the real villain here is increased sEH and the question for future research is "what triggers increases in sEH production in diabetic retinopathy"
terminalcommand 9y ago
I've had type 1 diabetes for 12 years, in the recent couple of years I occasionally take Omega3 and DHA supplements every day. My daily intake is 300 mg of Omega 3, 180 mg of EPA, 120 mg of DHA. I couldn't really understand the full article. Does this mean I should switch to pure Vitamin D supplements instead of DHA? As far as I could find, current understanding is that Omega3 (EPA and DHA) help prevent vascular damage and retinopathy. "Mice receiving the omega-3 rich diet were observed to have 40-50% less initial retinal vessel loss compared to omega-6 fed mice. As a result, the omega-3 group had a similar 40-50% reduction in pathological vessel growth. The results were virtually identical in the Fat-1 mice, confirming that increased retinal omega-3 levels inhibited neo-vascularization." (Source: http://www.sciencebasedhealth.com/-DHA-and-EPA-May-Protect-Against-Retinopathy-W71.aspx http://www.sciencebasedhealth.com/-DHA-and-EPA-May-Protect-A...)
- DiThi 9y ago
  I couldn't find how much are the mice taking in relation to the amount they need. Also there may be important differences between mice and humans. You probably shouldn't worry about DHA.
- WilliamSt 9y ago
  Please do not take advice about your health from hacker news. Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition. Consult a medical professional about your diet and medication.
  - DoofusOfDeath 9y ago
    That being said, you may find it worthwhile to work with an endocrinologist who stays abreast of this kind of research.
    - dominotw 9y ago
      Most doctors are totally clueless regarding nutrition or supplements. How do you even go about finding a doctor who "stays abreast of this kind of research" .

45 points by nocoder 9y ago

"The molecule 19,20-dihydroxydocosapentaenoic acid, formed by the metabolism of a fatty acid involved in normal brain function, promotes the development of a diabetes-associated form of blindness in a mouse model." tl;dr Mice should be really careful when consuming too much omega-3 fatty acids.

qwerty456127 9y ago

Wow! So dark...

DoofusOfDeath 9y ago
Ah crap! You may have retinopathy! ;)

carlsborg 9y ago

* "Dietary intake of DHA (omega 3 fatty acid) is associated with several health benefits, including normal brain and eye function2. .. mice that lack the protein Mfsd2a, which transports DHA across the blood–brain barrier into the brain, develop severe retinal and brain dysfunction3" * A quick search shows that a) DHAs are vital for brain function and b) the role of Mfsd2a is known: "Mfsd2a-deficient (Mfsd2a-knockout) mice show markedly reduced levels of DHA in brain accompanied by neuronal cell loss in hippocampus and cerebellum, as well as cognitive deficits and severe anxiety, and microcephaly. " https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13241?WT.feed_name=subjects_phospholipids https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13241?WT.feed_name=sub... * OP paper says: DHA and DHA oxidation produced epoxide metabolites "are associated with beneficial retinal effects" and an enzyme called sEH degrade them to form 19,20-DHDP, "suggesting that sEH has a causal role in diabetic retinopathy." (which is "a major cause of blindness in middle age"). * Then .. plot twist: And then "Hu and colleagues showed that it is the production of 19,20-DHDP, rather than the reduction in DHA or epoxide molecules, that is the key trigger of vascular degeneration. * "19,20-DHDP acts through a different mechanism from that of another player in retinopathy — vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein is induced under low-oxygen conditions.." * So the real villain here is increased sEH and the question for future research is "what triggers increases in sEH production in diabetic retinopathy"

terminalcommand 9y ago

I've had type 1 diabetes for 12 years, in the recent couple of years I occasionally take Omega3 and DHA supplements every day. My daily intake is 300 mg of Omega 3, 180 mg of EPA, 120 mg of DHA. I couldn't really understand the full article. Does this mean I should switch to pure Vitamin D supplements instead of DHA? As far as I could find, current understanding is that Omega3 (EPA and DHA) help prevent vascular damage and retinopathy. "Mice receiving the omega-3 rich diet were observed to have 40-50% less initial retinal vessel loss compared to omega-6 fed mice. As a result, the omega-3 group had a similar 40-50% reduction in pathological vessel growth. The results were virtually identical in the Fat-1 mice, confirming that increased retinal omega-3 levels inhibited neo-vascularization." (Source: http://www.sciencebasedhealth.com/-DHA-and-EPA-May-Protect-Against-Retinopathy-W71.aspx http://www.sciencebasedhealth.com/-DHA-and-EPA-May-Protect-A...)

DiThi 9y ago
I couldn't find how much are the mice taking in relation to the amount they need. Also there may be important differences between mice and humans. You probably shouldn't worry about DHA.
WilliamSt 9y ago
Please do not take advice about your health from hacker news. Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition. Consult a medical professional about your diet and medication.
- DoofusOfDeath 9y ago
  That being said, you may find it worthwhile to work with an endocrinologist who stays abreast of this kind of research.
  - dominotw 9y ago
    Most doctors are totally clueless regarding nutrition or supplements. How do you even go about finding a doctor who "stays abreast of this kind of research" .