BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A recent study has produced new evidence that omega-3 fatty acids, found in popular fish-oil supplements, may protect against diseases that affect retinal blood vessels, known as retinopathy, according to media reports Tuesday.

    The study, published online by the journal Nature Medicine Sunday, got the encouraging results in tests on mice.

    In the study, mice were fed diets rich in either omega-3 fatty or omega-6 fatty acids. The researchers found mice on the omega-3 diet had less blood vessel loss in the retina than the omega-6-fed mice. The blood vessel loss was also cut by up to a half.

    The researchers will soon begin testing the effects in premature babies, who are at risk for vision loss.

    It could benefit millions of people if the clinical trials find that omega-3 fatty acids is as effective in protecting humans against retinal disease as the findings of this study.

    Aside from fish-oil supplements, the most widely available source of omega-3 fatty acids is coldwater oily fish (wild salmon, herry, mackerel, anchovies, sardines). The compounds can also be made synthetically from algae or other non-fish sources.

    (Agencies)