Indian J Ophthalmol. 2026 Mar 12. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1506_25. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the impact of omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplements on tear inflammatory cytokines in dry eye patients with an omega-3 index below 4%.
METHODS: This randomized controlled study involved 102 dry eye patients with an omega-3 index below 4%. Participants received either four capsules of O3FAs (325 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 175 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or a placebo containing olive oil twice daily for 6 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary outcome measured changes in tear cytokines (IL-1β, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IF-γ, and TNF-α). Secondary outcomes included improvements in dry eye symptoms, Nelson grade, goblet cell density, Schirmer test values, and tear film breakup time. Group means (pretreatment, 1, 3, and 6 months) were compared using repeated measure analysis of variance.
RESULTS: At baseline, impression cytology revealed that mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were elevated by 1.6- to 2.4-fold in the O3FA group and 1.74 to 2.6-fold in the placebo group (P = 0.123). The O3FA group experienced a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) in tear cytokines. This group showed a 60% increase in the omega-3 index at 6 months, indicating high adherence to treatment. The dry eye symptom score, goblet cell density, and Nelson grade improved significantly in the O3FA group. However, these changes were not significant in the placebo group.
CONCLUSION: This study underscores the potential advantages of O3FA supplementation in decreasing tear inflammatory cytokines in dry eye patients with an omega-3 index below 4%.
PMID:41817560 | DOI:10.4103/IJO.IJO_1506_25
