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Association Between Omega‐3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Myopia: Results From the Two‐Sample and Multi‐Tissue Genomic Mendelian Randomization Study and KNHANES

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate associations between omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and myopia. Two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to estimate the associations between plasma levels of omega‐3 PUFAs and three traits of myopia, including myopia, high myopia (HM), and refractive spherical equivalent (RSE). Summary data‐based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and colocalization analysis were conducted to examine the associations between the FADS1 and FADS2 genes and three traits of myopia in European populations. The cross‐sectional study based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was performed to explore the relationship in East Asian adolescents. In the Two‐sample MR study, plasma levels of total omega‐3 PUFAs (0.993[0.990, 0.996]), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (0.992[0.989, 0.996]), and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (0.969[0.955, 0.983]) were found to be significantly and inversely associated with myopia in European populations, and similar results were shown in HM and RSE. SMR ( β = −0.028, p < 0.05; p HEIDI test > 0.05) and colocalization analysis (PPH4 = 0.926) identified an association between the expression of the FADS1 gene in the retina, crucial in PUFAs biosynthesis, and high myopia. In the cross‐sectional study, daily intake of DHA and EPA was found to be significantly associated with HM and RSE in East Asian adolescents. This study suggests a potential link between elevated omega‐3 PUFAs levels and a reduced risk of myopia, highlighting the involvement of the PUFAs biosynthesis pathway in HM among European populations. Further exploration is needed to uncover the underlying processes of this causal association.

Source: Food Science & Nutrition

DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70552