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Effect of fish oil on cognitive performance in older subjects

A randomized, controlled trial

From Wageningen University (O.v.d.R., J.M.G., F.J.K., W.A.v.S., C.D., C.P.G.M.d.G.), Division of Human Nutrition; TI Food & Nutrition (C.D.); Radboud University Nijmegen (M.G.M.O.R.), Department of Geriatrics/Alzheimer Centre Nijmegen; and VU University Amsterdam (A.T.F.B.), Department of Psychiatry, The Netherlands.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. O. van de Rest, Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands ondine.vanderest{at}wur.nl

Background: High intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against age-related cognitive decline. However, results from epidemiologic studies are inconclusive, and results from randomized trials in elderly subjects without dementia are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on cognitive performance.

Methods: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 302 cognitively healthy (Mini-Mental State Examination score > 21) individuals aged 65 years or older. Participants were randomly assigned to 1,800 mg/d EPA–DHA, 400 mg/d EPA–DHA, or placebo capsules for 26 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using an extensive neuropsychological test battery that included the cognitive domains of attention, sensorimotor speed, memory, and executive function.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 70 years, and 55% were male. Plasma concentrations of EPA–DHA increased by 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose fish oil group compared with placebo, reflecting excellent compliance. Baseline scores on the cognitive tests were comparable in the three groups. Overall, there were no significant differential changes in any of the cognitive domains for either low-dose or high-dose fish oil supplementation compared with placebo.

Conclusions: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we observed no overall effect of 26 weeks of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on cognitive performance.

Abbreviations: AD = Alzheimer disease; BMI = body mass index; CES-D = Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid; EDTA = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; MMSE = Mini-Mental State Examination; PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Supported by The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, grant number 6100.0004), The Hague, The Netherlands. The sponsor had no role in the design or implementation of the study, data collection, data management, data analysis, or data interpretation, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

Disclosure: The authors report no disclosures.

Received January 28, 2008. Accepted in final form April 29, 2008.

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