Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults

Abstract Background Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-6 and omega-3 families affect processes implicated in vascular and neural retinal disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macu...

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Main Authors: Won Jang, Yuna Kim, Hyesook Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01090-z
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author Won Jang
Yuna Kim
Hyesook Kim
author_facet Won Jang
Yuna Kim
Hyesook Kim
author_sort Won Jang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-6 and omega-3 families affect processes implicated in vascular and neural retinal disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a nationwide representative sample of older adults (≥ 50 years), including 1,944 men and 2,592 women, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017–2018). Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid intakes were collected through a 24-hour recall method and used to calculate the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Associations between the ratio and AMD were determined using odds ratios (ORs) from multivariate logistic regressions. Results The prevalence of AMD was 19.8% and 17.7% in Korean men and women, respectively. In women, the multivariable-adjusted OR for incurring AMD was significantly higher in the 2nd (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.02–1.81) and 3rd (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.02–1.83) tertiles of the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio than in the 1st tertile (OR = 1, the reference OR) (P = 0.036 for this trend). However, this association was not observed in men. Conclusions These results suggest that high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios may be associated with an increased prevalence of AMD among Korean women.
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spelling doaj-art-3b92cd42d9a34ee9bb4da0a5341654402025-08-20T03:52:23ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912025-03-0124111010.1186/s12937-025-01090-zAssociation between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adultsWon Jang0Yuna Kim1Hyesook Kim2Department of Food and Nutrition, Wonkwang UniversityDepartment of Clinical Nutrition Science, The Graduate School of Clinical Health Sciences, Ewha Womans UniversityDepartment of Food and Nutrition, Wonkwang UniversityAbstract Background Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-6 and omega-3 families affect processes implicated in vascular and neural retinal disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using a nationwide representative sample of older adults (≥ 50 years), including 1,944 men and 2,592 women, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017–2018). Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid intakes were collected through a 24-hour recall method and used to calculate the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Associations between the ratio and AMD were determined using odds ratios (ORs) from multivariate logistic regressions. Results The prevalence of AMD was 19.8% and 17.7% in Korean men and women, respectively. In women, the multivariable-adjusted OR for incurring AMD was significantly higher in the 2nd (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.02–1.81) and 3rd (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.02–1.83) tertiles of the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio than in the 1st tertile (OR = 1, the reference OR) (P = 0.036 for this trend). However, this association was not observed in men. Conclusions These results suggest that high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios may be associated with an increased prevalence of AMD among Korean women.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01090-zAge-related macular degenerationPolyunsaturated fatty acidsOmega-6Omega-3Korean national health and nutrition examination survey
spellingShingle Won Jang
Yuna Kim
Hyesook Kim
Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
Nutrition Journal
Age-related macular degeneration
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Omega-6
Omega-3
Korean national health and nutrition examination survey
title Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
title_full Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
title_fullStr Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
title_full_unstemmed Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
title_short Association between the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults
title_sort association between the dietary omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio and age related macular degeneration in korean adults
topic Age-related macular degeneration
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Omega-6
Omega-3
Korean national health and nutrition examination survey
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01090-z
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AT hyesookkim associationbetweenthedietaryomega6toomega3fattyacidratioandagerelatedmaculardegenerationinkoreanadults