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Hi Everybody,
I've posted this info in the thyroid and Sjogrens forum so if you're unfortunate enough to have those issues too -- you'll see this same info.
I take a lot of supplements -- one of which is fish oil -- 6 grams daily of Omega 3's . I've recently noticed that my eyes have been drier lately -- which was surprising me because my supplement regime has been working for me for some time -- I haven't felt the need to use any eye drops for over a year... maybe even longer ?? -- but that changed recently. That's what prompted me to start doing some more research.
I found an interesting website / online journal called: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Click here to see an abstract of a study I found in the journal on Sjorgren's patients using Omega 6 supplements. Note: My thought is if Omega 6's worked for SS patients -- then surely others could benefit too. --???---
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains the Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids ratio:
Well, after reading about the Omega 6 study, I went back and was looking in my supplement "pantry" and noticed my BioTears supplement bottle -- which, BTW, I had stopped taking a few months ago. I had increased my Omega 3's considerably, and just decided I would try to reduce the number of pills I was having to swallow for awhile -- so I just stopped taking the BioTears.
The BioTears supplement facts label explains that their serving suggestion has 802mg of GLA and DHA/ EPA -- derived from Black Currant Seed Oil and Cod Liver Oil. Black Currant Seed Oil is a source for Omega 6. So I'm surmising that by stopping the BioTears I lessened my intake of Omega 6's AND since I had just increased my Omega 3's... well I'm sure the ratio was way out of balance.
ANYWAY -- having figured out that perhaps my recent dry eye issues could be ratio inbalance between Omega 6 to Omega 3 is a relief for me. I thought that maybe my inflammation / antibody levels [ or whatever] may have risen or changed for some "unknown" reason -- when in-fact, I had made a change in my treatment. There has been a lot of information about Omega 3's and inflammation... but I don't think I saw anything about the ratio before. ???
Not sure if this helps anybody else... but it sure makes me feel better. I'll be adding back the BioTears... and also starting some Evening Primrose Oil. It will be interesting to see if I get back the benefit I was previously getting.
I read in another thread / post someone was lamenting the number and size of the fish oils pills. Yes.. it's a lot of BIG pills to swallow... but I just take them with my morning and evening meals -- fills me up and maybe I don't eat as much --???---
Best wishes...
Jann
I've posted this info in the thyroid and Sjogrens forum so if you're unfortunate enough to have those issues too -- you'll see this same info.
I take a lot of supplements -- one of which is fish oil -- 6 grams daily of Omega 3's . I've recently noticed that my eyes have been drier lately -- which was surprising me because my supplement regime has been working for me for some time -- I haven't felt the need to use any eye drops for over a year... maybe even longer ?? -- but that changed recently. That's what prompted me to start doing some more research.
I found an interesting website / online journal called: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Click here to see an abstract of a study I found in the journal on Sjorgren's patients using Omega 6 supplements. Note: My thought is if Omega 6's worked for SS patients -- then surely others could benefit too. --???---
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains the Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids ratio:
For optimum health and disease prevention, the balance should consist of one to four times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. A typical American diet, however, tends to contain 11 to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids.
The BioTears supplement facts label explains that their serving suggestion has 802mg of GLA and DHA/ EPA -- derived from Black Currant Seed Oil and Cod Liver Oil. Black Currant Seed Oil is a source for Omega 6. So I'm surmising that by stopping the BioTears I lessened my intake of Omega 6's AND since I had just increased my Omega 3's... well I'm sure the ratio was way out of balance.
ANYWAY -- having figured out that perhaps my recent dry eye issues could be ratio inbalance between Omega 6 to Omega 3 is a relief for me. I thought that maybe my inflammation / antibody levels [ or whatever] may have risen or changed for some "unknown" reason -- when in-fact, I had made a change in my treatment. There has been a lot of information about Omega 3's and inflammation... but I don't think I saw anything about the ratio before. ???
Not sure if this helps anybody else... but it sure makes me feel better. I'll be adding back the BioTears... and also starting some Evening Primrose Oil. It will be interesting to see if I get back the benefit I was previously getting.
I read in another thread / post someone was lamenting the number and size of the fish oils pills. Yes.. it's a lot of BIG pills to swallow... but I just take them with my morning and evening meals -- fills me up and maybe I don't eat as much --???---
Best wishes...
Jann