Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Dry Eye Syndrome: An In vitro Investigation

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy & bioallied science Vol. 16; no. Suppl 3; pp. S2673 - S2675
• Main Author: Alharbi, Abdulmajeed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2024; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Cell viability; Cornea; Cytokines; Docosahexaenoic acid; docosahexaenoic acid (dha); dry eye syndrome; Eicosapentaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid (epa); Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Epithelial cells; Evaporation; Fatty acids; in vitro study; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Lipids; omega-3 fatty acids; Original Research; Supplements; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); in vitro study; omega-3 fatty acids; Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); dry eye syndrome
• ISSN: 0976-4879; 0975-7406
• DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_367_24

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a prevalent ocular condition characterized by insufficient tear production or excessive tear evaporation, leading to discomfort and visual disturbances. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proposed as a potential therapeutic intervention for DES due to their anti-inflammatory and lipid modulation properties. Cultured human corneal epithelial cells were exposed to various concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for 72 h. Cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, while inflammatory cytokine levels (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8)) and lipid profile (measured by lipid staining) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Untreated cells served as controls for comparison. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in cell viability compared to untreated cells. At optimal concentrations, EPA and DHA significantly enhanced cell viability by 30% and 35%, respectively ( < 0.05). Moreover, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation led to a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokine levels, with a 50% decrease in IL-6 and IL-8 secretion compared to untreated cells ( < 0.01). Additionally, lipid staining revealed improved lipid profile and organization in corneal epithelial cells following omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, indicative of enhanced tear film stability. findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation exerts beneficial effects on cellular markers associated with DES.