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Re-Esterified Triglyceride ω-3 Fatty Acids in Dry Eye Disease With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Eom Y, Jun I, Jeon HS, Lim DH, Lee H, Hwang HS, Chung SH, Chung TY et al.

JAMA ophthalmology, 2024

132 participants

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Taking ω-3 supplements has been associated with a reduction in symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). However, a recent relatively large clinical trial concluded that treating DED with ω-3 consumption was ineffective, potentially warranting additional investigations.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) ω-3 fatty acid supplementation on DED associated with MGD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This double-masked, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 7 institutions from September 2020 to January 2023. Patients with DED associated with MGD were included and randomly assigned to the ω-3 group (received 1680 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 560 mg of docosahexaenoic acid), whereas those in the grape-seed group received 3000 mg of grape-seed oil daily.

INTERVENTIONS: rTG ω-3 Fatty acid supplementation vs grape-seed oil.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks. The safety parameters were visual acuity and intraocular pressure change.

RESULTS: A total of 132 patients (mean [SD] age, 50.6 [13.8] years; 103 female [78.0%]) were included in this study. The mean (SD) baseline OSDI scores of the ω-3 and grape-seed groups were 43.5 (16.5) and 44.1 (16.6), respectively. A total of 58 patients (87.9%) and 57 patients (86.4%) in the ω-3 and grape-seed groups, respectively, completed 12 weeks of…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 132 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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