Flax Seed Oil Protects Retina from UV

VAN, TurkeyFlax seed oil supplementation may help protect against UV-related damage in the retina, according to a recent trial conducted by researchers at Yuzuncu Yil University and published online ahead of print in Toxicology and Industrial Health.

Researchers measured Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the skin, lens and serum of rats exposed to ultraviolet C (UVC). The rats were assigned to one of three groups: Control, UVC, and UVC plus 4 ml/kg of body weight flax seed oil (FSO). The UVC and UVC/FSO groups were exposed to UVC light for one hour twice daily for four weeks.

In the UVC group, MDA and PC levels increased, compared to control, while these levels in the skin, lens and serum decreased in the UVC/FSO group relative to the UVC group. On the other hand, GSH skin levels decreased in both UVC and UVC/FSO groups. Further, GPx and SOD activities in the skin, lens ans serum were decreased in the UVC group, but increased in the UVC/FSO group. And apoptosis was higher in both UVC and UVC/FSO groups, however retinal apoptosis was lower in theUVC/FSO group, compared to the UVC group, showing specific protection for the eyes.