A new form of omega-3 fatty acids could prevent vision loss from diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other diseases, according to research.

In healthy eyes the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulates in the retina and its deficiency is associated with vision loss. People with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration often have abnormally low levels of DHA in the retina, resulting in impaired vision.

While DHA supplementation may help prevent such declines, increasing its content in the retina has been challenging with available supplements. DHA is found in fish oil capsules and other supplements, usually in a form called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA. Although TAG-DHA has benefits elsewhere in the body, it does not reach the eyes because it cannot travel from the blood to the retina.

Researchers have developed a new lysophospholipid form of DHA (LPC-DHA) that can cross into the retina of the eye to prevent vision impairment. In mouse studies, LPC-DHA increased DHA in the retina by 96% and reduced eye problems associated with Alzheimer’s-like processes.

The research was presented by University of Illinois Department of Medicine assistant professor Davamani Sugasini at “Discover BMB,” the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Seattle.