• Every Individual With Macular Degeneration Should Supplement Their Diet With Omega-3 Fish Oil To Avoid The Advanced Stage Of The Disease

    Posted August 6, 2017: by Bill Sardi

    Researchers are making a link between advanced stage macular degeneration and a hormone secreted from central body fat.  The ramifications of this discovery are profound and are likely to save the sight of millions of senior adults.

    First some background information.  When light receptor (photoreceptor) cells at the back of the eyes are deprived of oxygen, new blood vessels outcrop to counter this problem but invade the bloodless visual center of the eye (the macula).  The outcropping of these new blood vessels is called neovascularization or angiogenesis.

    Eye doctors call this wet macular degeneration, which is the fast progressing neovascular form of the disease that can permanently destroy vision, leaving a subject legally blind.

    Fortunately medicines needle injected into the eyes cause these new blood vessels to recede, though the treatment is not foolproof.  But sadly, about 15% of patients with the neovascular form of the disease do not respond to treatment.  Repeated treatments are required, about once every month.

    Enter adiponectin

    It has been known for some time now that fat cells (adipocytes) secrete a hormone called adiponectin.  (pronounced a-dippo-nek-tin). Adiponectin inhibits insulin resistance and the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in arteries.

    The newly reported discovery is that omega-3 fish oil (EPA-DHA) increases adiponectin levels secreted from fat cells in your mid-section and suppresses abnormal blood vessel formation in the retina of laboratory animals.

    The experiment

    Researchers subjected animal eyes to laser energy to purposefully induce neovascularization.  The formation of abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eyes was suppressed by consumption of omega-3 fish oil.  However, when adiponectin was removed the inhibition of the abnormal blood vessels by fish oil was completely abolished. [Investigative Ophthalmology Aug 2017]

    Adiponectin blood levels are increased by exercise and low-calorie diets (18-48%), by consumption of fiber (60-115%) and by consumption of omega-3 fish oil (14-60%). [Nutrition Reviews Oct 2011]  The red wine molecule resveratrol has also been shown to raise adiponectin blood levels. [Experimental & Therapeutic Medicine May 2017]

    Blood levels of adiponectin may be newly reported to curb the progression of macular degeneration but actually this connection was reported five years ago.  In 2012 it was reported that adiponectin inhibits the area of abnormal blood vessels by 99%. [Biochim Biophysica Acta Aug 2012] An even earlier report was also published in 2009. [Cell Biology International July 2009; Circulation Research May 8, 2009]  So ophthalmology has been sitting on its hands over this discovery for at least 8 years.

    Ophthalmology chose to ignore this compelling research and allow cases of macular degeneration to progress to an advanced stage when expensive monoclonal antibody drugs at a thousand dollars a pop could be used to temporarily quell the invasive blood vessels.

    This may also explain why the National Eye Institute has inexplicably failed to recommend fish oil for macular degeneration despite overwhelming scientific evidence. I wrote about this in my report entitled “Something Fishy About Macular Degeneration Fish Oil Studies” in December of 2013. [Knowledge of Health, Dec 11, 2013]

    And adiponectin is not limited retaining vision.  In an animal study resveratrol given to laboratory mice protected their heart from experimental oxygen deprivation by increasing adiponectin levels. [Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacology Oct 2016]   There are other corroborative studies. [Cardiovascular Drugs & Therapy Feb 2013; Cardiovascular Drugs & Therapy Feb 2013]

    Mid-section body fat accompanied by insulin resistance is the key factor in the development of metabolic disease and subsequent deterioration of the circulatory system as evidenced at the back of the eyes.

    Dietary changes, like intake of fish, omega-3 supplementation (not just eating fish), adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and coffee consumption along with resveratrol supplementation are cited as ways to increase adiponectin levels.  [Cardiovascular Diabetology 2014]

    It’s obvious.  Big Pharma doesn’t want fish oil and resveratrol.  In one fell swoop, cardiologists, diabetologists and ophthalmologists are out of billions of health insurance dollars. All are natural remedies that don’t require a prescription.  Prevention doesn’t pay health professionals but it does save eyes and hearts and lives.  Modern medicine will make sure there is never enough evidence to prove fish oil and resveratrol have any place in modern medicine.

    And the frightful reality is that most people won’t start supplementing their diet with fish oil and resveratrol until irreversible changes occur in their eyes.  By then they are placed on myriads of inappropriate drugs and are fearful of weaning away from them.  ©2017 Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc.

    Posted in Dietary Supplements ; No Comments »

Comments are closed.