Posted on 03/28/2023 1:33:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
For the first time, researchers have developed a form of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is capable of crossing into the eye's retina to ward off visual declines related to Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other disorders.
The DHA found in fish oil capsules is called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA. Although TAG-DHA has benefits in other parts of the body, it does not reach the eyes. For the study, researchers created a new lysophospholipid form of DHA, or LPC-DHA. In studies using mice, LPC-DHA successfully increased DHA in the retina and reduced eye problems associated with Alzheimer's-like processes.
In healthy eyes, DHA is concentrated in the retina, where it helps maintain photoreceptors, the cells that convert light into signals that are sent to the brain. DHA deficiency in the retina is associated with vision loss. People with Alzheimer's disease, as well as those with diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and peroxisomal disorders, frequently have abnormally low levels of retinal DHA, and visual impairments are common as a result.
"Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood-retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier," said Dhavamani.
The researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to exhibit early-onset Alzheimer's disease. After six months, mice that were fed LPC-DHA daily showed a 96% improvement in retinal DHA content as well as preserved retinal structure and function. In contrast, TAG-DHA supplements had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.
The dosage of LPC-DHA used in the study is equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day in humans.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
There appear to be at least four different companies making liposomal Omega-3 oil, which could be a similar process to this “lysophospholipid” form.
According to Wikipedia:
“The term lysophospholipid (LPL) refers to any phospholipid that is missing one of its two O-acyl chains. Thus, LPLs have a free alcohol in either the sn-1 or the sn-2 position. The prefix 'lyso-' comes from the fact that lysophospholipids were originally found to be hemolytic, however it is now used to refer generally to phospholipids missing an acyl chain. LPLs are usually the result of phospholipase A-type enzymatic activity on regular phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidic acid.”
Some liposomal formulations do use these phospholipids to create their liposomal supplements.
One wonders if the LPC-DHA might be able to better penetrate into other tissues and reduce inflammation thereabouts.
Thinking brain, prostate, injuries to ligaments, and etc.
Do we have any way to tell which supplements use these phospholipids to create their Omega-3? Have you been able to research and identify those?
Interesting!
I have not.
Could you list the companies please? Thanks.
Good question! If this helps certain conditions it would make a difference. It seems like if it can get to the retina it could also get to the brain.
Love all of these posts, thank you!
4L8tr
More from the document:
Ophthalmology
MARCH 27, 2023
“Dietary LPC-DHA is enormously superior to TAG-DHA in enriching retinal DHA and could be potentially beneficial for various retinopathies in patients,” said Sugasini Dhavamani, a research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This approach provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or mitigation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.”
Dhavamani will present the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, March 25–28 in Seattle.
While boosting DHA can help to prevent such declines, increasing retinal DHA content has been challenging with currently available supplements. For a dietary supplement to deliver DHA to the retina, the DHA must be able to first be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina.
“Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood-retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier,” said Dhavamani. “This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA that overcomes both intestinal and blood-retinal barriers and improves retinal function.”
The researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to exhibit processes similar to those found in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. After six months, mice that were fed LPC-DHA daily showed a 96% improvement in retinal DHA content as well as preserved retinal structure and function. In contrast, TAG-DHA supplements had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.
The results suggest that LPC-DHA supplements could help to prevent Alzheimer’s-related declines in visual function. Researchers say the approach should also be helpful for other disorders in which DHA deficiency and vision impairment are common.
The dosage of LPC-DHA used in the study is equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day in humans. Since these studies were conducted in mice, further studies would be needed to confirm that LPC-DHA is safe and effective for use in humans.
I have age-related macular degeneration, the wet kind. Any additional information on how to ge this product would be appreciated.
Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid and its bioavailability: A review
There is one good dietary source of LPC-DHA.
Fish roe (caviar).
It isn’t found in significant levels in other parts of fish.
bkmk
Nutra-supp
https://www.nutra-supp.com/product/liposomal-omega-3-250ml/
Empirical Labs
https://www.empirical-labs.com/vitamins-supplements/liposomal-dha/
Liposoma Nutraceuticals
https://liposomanutraceuticals.com/white-label-supplements-request/
Spec Nova
https://specnova.com/lipovantage/ingredients/
There may be others.
Someone would have to research if any of these approach the process in the way that it both crosses the intestinal wall and the blood brain barrier, but DHA does exist in eyes, normally, so it's got to get there, somehow.
Aker BioMarine has developed a pilot product and production method for lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)- bound EPA and DHA from krill.
Lysoveta is not on the market yet.
https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/aker-biomarine-in-deal-for-development-of-lysoveta
I think they are still jumping through FDA approval hoops.
Thanks for linking.
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