Diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help ward off shortsightedness in children

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found predominantly in fish oils, may help ward off the development of shortsightedness (myopia) in children, while a high intake of saturated fats, found in foods such as butter, palm oil, and red meat, may boost the risk of the condition, finds research. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), which can only be obtained from the diet, are thought to improve/prevent several chronic eye conditions. The researchers drew on 1,005 Chinese 6–8-year-olds, randomly recruited from the population-based Hong Kong Children Eye Study. In all, around a quarter of the children (276; 27.5%) had...