TY - JOUR
T1 - Supplementation with oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid, but not in docosahexaenoic acid, improves global cognitive function in healthy, young adults
T2 - results from randomized controlled trials
AU - Patan, Michael
AU - Kennedy, David
AU - Husberg, Cathrine
AU - Hustvedt, Svein Olaf
AU - Calder, Philip C.
AU - Khan, Julie
AU - Forster, Joanne
AU - Jackson, Philippa
N1 - Funding information: The authors’ responsibilities were as follows—PAJ, MJP, DOK, CH, and SOH: conceived and designed the study; MJP, JK, and JF: collected the data; MJP, PAJ, and PCC: analyzed the data; and all authors: contributed to preparing the first draft and read and approved the final manuscript. CH and SOH are employees of BASF AS. PCC is an advisor to and has received funding from BASF AS. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - Background Evidence regarding the effects of the omega-3 (ɷ-3) PUFAs (n–3 PUFAs) DHA and EPA on cognition is lacking. Objectives We investigated whether supplementation with oils rich in EPA or DHA improves cognition, prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation, and memory consolidation. Methods Healthy adults (n = 310; age range: 25–49 y) completed a 26-wk randomized controlled trial in which they consumed either 900 mg DHA/d and 270 mg EPA/d (DHA-rich oil), 360 mg DHA/d and 900 mg EPA/d (EPA-rich oil), or 3000 mg/d refined olive oil (placebo). Cognitive performance and memory consolidation were assessed via computerized cognitive test battery. PFC Hb oxygenation was measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Results Both global accuracy and speed improved with EPA-rich oil compared with placebo and DHA-rich oil [EPA vs. placebo accuracy: estimated marginal mean (EMM) = 0.17 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.24) vs. EMM = 0.03 (95% CI = −0.04, 0.11); P = 0.044; EPA vs. placebo speed: EMM = −0.15 (95% CI: −0.22, −0.07) vs. EMM = 0.03 (95% CI: −0.05, 0.10); P = 0.003]. Accuracy of memory was improved with EPA compared with DHA [EMM = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.26, 1.06) vs. EMM = −0.08 (95% CI: −0.49, 0.33); P = 0.034]. Both EPA- and DHA-rich oils showed trends towards reduced PFC oxygenated Hb (oxy-Hb) compared with placebo [placebo: EMM = 27.36 µM (95% CI: 25.73, 28.98); DHA: EMM = 24.62 µM (95% CI: 22.75, 26.48); P = 0.060; EPA: EMM = 24.97 µM (95% CI: 23.35, 26.59); P = 0.082]. Conclusions EPA supplementation improved global cognitive function and was superior to the oil enriched with DHA. Interpreted within a neural efficiency framework, reduced PFC oxygenated Hb suggests that n–3 PUFAs may be associated with increased efficiency. These trials were registered in the clinical trials registry (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) as NCT03158545, NCT03592251, NCT02763514.
AB - Background Evidence regarding the effects of the omega-3 (ɷ-3) PUFAs (n–3 PUFAs) DHA and EPA on cognition is lacking. Objectives We investigated whether supplementation with oils rich in EPA or DHA improves cognition, prefrontal cortex (PFC) hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation, and memory consolidation. Methods Healthy adults (n = 310; age range: 25–49 y) completed a 26-wk randomized controlled trial in which they consumed either 900 mg DHA/d and 270 mg EPA/d (DHA-rich oil), 360 mg DHA/d and 900 mg EPA/d (EPA-rich oil), or 3000 mg/d refined olive oil (placebo). Cognitive performance and memory consolidation were assessed via computerized cognitive test battery. PFC Hb oxygenation was measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Results Both global accuracy and speed improved with EPA-rich oil compared with placebo and DHA-rich oil [EPA vs. placebo accuracy: estimated marginal mean (EMM) = 0.17 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.24) vs. EMM = 0.03 (95% CI = −0.04, 0.11); P = 0.044; EPA vs. placebo speed: EMM = −0.15 (95% CI: −0.22, −0.07) vs. EMM = 0.03 (95% CI: −0.05, 0.10); P = 0.003]. Accuracy of memory was improved with EPA compared with DHA [EMM = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.26, 1.06) vs. EMM = −0.08 (95% CI: −0.49, 0.33); P = 0.034]. Both EPA- and DHA-rich oils showed trends towards reduced PFC oxygenated Hb (oxy-Hb) compared with placebo [placebo: EMM = 27.36 µM (95% CI: 25.73, 28.98); DHA: EMM = 24.62 µM (95% CI: 22.75, 26.48); P = 0.060; EPA: EMM = 24.97 µM (95% CI: 23.35, 26.59); P = 0.082]. Conclusions EPA supplementation improved global cognitive function and was superior to the oil enriched with DHA. Interpreted within a neural efficiency framework, reduced PFC oxygenated Hb suggests that n–3 PUFAs may be associated with increased efficiency. These trials were registered in the clinical trials registry (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) as NCT03158545, NCT03592251, NCT02763514.
KW - cognition
KW - docosahexaenoic acid
KW - eicosapentaenoic acid
KW - memory
KW - n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
KW - self-micro-emulsifying
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110916835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ajcn/nqab174
DO - 10.1093/ajcn/nqab174
M3 - Article
VL - 114
SP - 914
EP - 924
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
SN - 0002-9165
IS - 3
M1 - nqab174
ER -