DHA Supplementation Alone or in Combination with Other Nutrients Does not Modulate Cerebral Hemodynamics or Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults.

Philippa Jackson,James Dick,Joanne Forster,David Kennedy,Irene Younger,J Bell

doi:10.3390/nu8020086

Philippa Jackson, James Dick + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8020086

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Feb 9, 2016
Citations: 109	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Stirling, Northumbria University

Abstract

A number of recent trials have demonstrated positive effects of dietary supplementation with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on measures of cognitive function in healthy young and older adults. One potential mechanism by which EPA, and DHA in particular, may exert these effects is via modulation of cerebral hemodynamics. In order to investigate the effects of DHA alone or provided as one component of a multinutrient supplement (also including Gingko biloba, phosphatidylserine and vitamins B9 and B12) on measures of cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive function, 86 healthy older adults aged 50–70 years who reported subjective memory deficits were recruited to take part in a six month daily dietary supplementation trial. Relative changes in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin were assessed using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) during the performance of cognitive tasks prior to and following the intervention period. Performance on the cognitive tasks was also assessed. No effect of either active treatment was found for any of the NIRS measures or on the cognitive performance tasks, although the study was limited by a number of factors. Further work should continue to evaluate more holistic approaches to cognitive aging.

Highlights

Declining cognitive function is associated with increasing age
A number of large-scale epidemiological studies indicate that intake of one potentially protective group of dietary components, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), is inversely associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia [2,4,5,6,7,8], this finding is not universally reported [9]
The capillary whole blood fatty acid analyses revealed a doubling in concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and around a fifty percent increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) following both active treatments suggesting that adherence to the treatment was very good

Summary

Introduction

Declining cognitive function is associated with increasing age. In order to combat the global health burden of cognitive decline associated with societal ageing, modifiable lifestyle factors known to attenuate cognitive ageing such as exercise [1] and diet [2,3] are increasingly being explored as preventative approaches. A number of large-scale epidemiological studies indicate that intake of one potentially protective group of dietary components, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), is inversely associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia [2,4,5,6,7,8], this finding is not universally reported [9]. As a whole, the results from randomized controlled trials which have assessed the effects of supplemental n-3 PUFAs on cognitive function in older adults have yielded mixed results, more recent trials that have administered the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in dosages in excess of 850 mg/day for at least 6 months have reported more consistent positive effects of treatment on cognitive performance outcomes [10,11,12,13,14]. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has revealed a role for DHA

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