Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a protective factor of myopia: the Hong Kong Children Eye Study
Xiu Juan Zhang, Yuzhou Zhang, You Juan Zhang, Jun Yu, Fang Yao Tang, Yi Li, Suey Yeung, Ka Wai Kam, Kunal Agrawal, Nicholas Chieh Loh, Patrick Ip, Ian CK Wong, Wei Zhang, Alvin L Young, Clement C Tham, Chi Pui Pang, Li Jia Chen, Jason C YamPurpose
To evaluate the associations between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) and other dietary factors with myopia.
Methods
A total of 1005 Chinese children, aged from 6 to 8 years, from a population-based Hong Kong Children Eye Study, were included in the analysis. Diet was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) refraction was assessed with an autorefractometer, and axial length (AL) by an IOL Master.
Results
AL was longest in the lowest quartile group of ω-3 PUFAs intake, compared with the highest (adjusted mean (95% CI), 23.29 (23.17 to 23.40) mm vs 23.08 (22.96 to 23.19) mm, p=0.01; p-trend=0.02) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, near-work time, outdoor time, and parental myopia history. The corresponding trends were observed in SE (−0.13 (−0.32 to 0.07) D in the lowest and 0.23 (0.03 to 0.42) D in the highest quartile groups, p=0.01; p-trend=0.01). In contrast, AL was longest in the highest quartile group of saturated fatty acids (SFA) intake, compared with the lowest (23.30 (23.17 to 23.42) mm vs 23.13 (23.01 to 23.24) mm, p=0.05; p-trend=0.04). The corresponding trends were observed in SE (−0.12 (−0.33 to 0.09) D in the highest and 0.13 (-0.04 to 0.31) D in the lowest quartile group, p=0.06; p-trend=0.04). A lower intake of ω-3 PUFAs was associated with myopia (p-trend=0.006). None of the other nutrients were associated with SE or AL or myopia.
Conclusions
Intake of ω-3 PUFAs is a protective factor against myopia, while higher SFA intake is a risk factor. Our findings indicated a possible effect of diet on myopia, of which ω-3 PUFAs intake may play a protective role against myopia development in children.