Compositions of omega 3 fatty acids to treat diseases which involve damage to the nervous system

Abstract

Compositions comprising omega 3 fatty acids for use in the treatment, amelioration or prevention of various conditions, disorders, and diseases which involve damage to the nervous system, as the peripheral nervous system neuropathy and glaucoma.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the fields of medicine, foods, and health food supplements. More particularly, it relates to compositions comprising omega 3 fatty acids for use in the treatment of a disease, and in particular to compositions comprising eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for use in the treatment, amelioration or prevention of various conditions, disorders, and diseases which involve damage to the nervous system, as the peripheral nervous system neuropathy and glaucoma.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Neuropathy is damage or disease involving nerves, which may affect sensation, movement, gland or organ function and other aspects of health, depending on the type of nerve affected. Common causes include systemic diseases (such as diabetes or leprosy), vitamin deficiency, medication (e.g., chemotherapy), traumatic injury, excessive alcohol consumption, immune system disease or infection, or it may b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides new compositions and dosage forms of omega 3 fatty acids for the treatment, amelioration, or prevention of various conditions involving damage to the nervous system, such as peripheral nervous system neuropathy and glaucoma. The compositions contain at least 3 g of omega 3 fatty acids, preferably at least 5 g, and may be in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, a food composition, or a kit of parts. The omega 3 fatty acids can be in a mass ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) of 1:1. The compositions can be administered one or more times a day.

Problems solved by technology

Voluntary eye closure may not be possible and can result in damage to the cornea and conjunctiva.

There is no current treatment for these eye pathologies.

Currently there is no treatment to limit axonal injury and improve neuronal function in these patients.

Optic Nerve Damage Due to Glaucoma

This results in inflammatory response and damage to retinal ganglion cells by vascular dysregulation resulting in periods of ischaemia and reperfusion damage.

There is a higher risk of field loss among patients who have larger intraocular pressure swings at different times of the day.

Late diagnosis or advanced visual field loss at the time of diagnosis are among the primary risk factors for progression to blindness in glaucoma.

It has been estimated that late presentation is the main cause of blindness in one-third of glaucoma patients who become blind.

60% of glaucoma patients suffer from dry eye disease which can reduce quality of life and compliance of glaucoma treatment.

The neuroprotective treatment must have minimal visual or systemic side effects otherwise it will not be tolerated by patients.

Currently there is no generally accepted treatment for ischaemic optic neuropathy.

These immune cells destroy the myelin and cause demyelination.

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