Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction

摘要

Background: We assessed the impact of a dietary supplement based on the combination of omega-3?essential fatty acids and antioxidants on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).Methods: Patients of either sex (aged?18–85?years) diagnosed with MGD according to criteria identified at a?2011?International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction participated in this randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Group?A patients (controls) received an oral placebo supplement and group?B patients received the oral study supplement (Brudysec??1.5?g; Brudy Laboratories, Barcelona, Spain). At baseline and at?3-month follow-up, the patients completed the?36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire using a Spanish validated version. The Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary scores were the main outcome variables.Results: A total of?61?patients completed the study (group?A, n=31; group?B, n=30). There were no significant differences in PCS and MCS scores at baseline between the two study groups, but after?3?months of treatment, significantly higher mean PCS and MSC scores were observed in patients treated with the active omega-3?dietary supplement as compared with controls (mean [standard deviation] PCS score?53.33±5.57?versus?47.46±7.31, P=0.008; mean MCS score?54.60±5.64?versus?47.80±8.45, P=0.0005). Moreover, mean differences between values at?3?months as compared with baseline were statistically significant for patients in group?B (PCS score?7.14±5.81,?95% confidence interval?4.97–9.31, P=0.000; MCS score?5.96±7.64, 95% confidence interval?3.10–8.81, P=0.0002), whereas mean differences in patients assigned to group?A were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with a combination of omega-3?essential fatty acids and antioxidants had a significant beneficial effect on HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in patients with MGD.