Abstract
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are important for brain development and function, maybe especially during adolescence. Observational studies have demonstrated an association between fish consumption (a source of LCPUFA) and cognition in adolescents, but intervention trials are lacking. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effect of one year of krill oil (a source of LCPUFA) supplementation on the cognitive performance of adolescents with a low Omega-3 Index (O3I ≤ 5%). A double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled supplementation trial with repeated measurements (baseline (T0), three months (T1), six months (T2), and 12 months (T3)) in adolescents (267 randomized) was executed. Participants were randomized to 400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day in Cohort I or placebo and 800 mg EPA + DHA per day in Cohort II or placebo. O3I was monitored by a finger prick at all time points. At T0, T2, and T3, participants executed a neurocognitive test battery. Covariate corrected mixed models were run with either condition (krill or placebo) or O3I as predictors. Krill oil supplementation led to a small but significant increase in mean O3I, but few participants increased to the intended O3I range (8–11%). There was no significant effect of supplementation on the neurocognitive tests, nor a relationship between O3I and neurocognitive test scores. The increase in O3I was small in most participants, probably due to non-compliance. Possibly the increase in O3I was too small to demonstrate an effect. More research on the influence of LCPUFAs on cognition in adolescents is needed.
Highlights
The influences of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on health and cognition have been studied extensively
LCPUFAs such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is not surprising, as they are involved in many processes such as neuronal membrane fluidity, signal transduction, blood-brain barrier integrity, and inflammation [5,6]
The possible positive influence of LCPUFAs such as DHA and EPA on brain functioning has led to many observational and experimental studies. These studies have mostly focused on infants, pregnant women, children, and the elderly, while LCPUFAs might be especially important in adolescents
Summary
The influences of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on health and cognition have been studied extensively. The possible positive influence of LCPUFAs such as DHA and EPA on brain functioning has led to many observational and experimental studies. These studies have mostly focused on infants, pregnant women, children, and the elderly (for review, see, among others, [7,8,9,10]), while LCPUFAs might be especially important in adolescents. Adolescence is characterized by profound brain development, with the prefrontal cortex especially continuing to mature into the late twenties [11,12]. The prefrontal cortex is very rich in DHA [14], and an earlier study with DHA supplementation in children aged 8–10 years showed higher functional activity in the prefrontal cortex [15]
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