Projects per year
Abstract
Background: There is evidence that both omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and cocoa flavanols can improve cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and in those with memory complaints. However, their combined effect is unknown. Objectives: To investigate the combined effect of EPA/DHA and cocoa flavanols (OM3FLAV) on cognitive performance and brain structures in older adults with memory complaints. Methods: A randomized placebo-controlled trial of DHA-rich fish oil (providing 1.1 g/d DHA and 0.4 g/d EPA) and a flavanol-rich dark chocolate (providing 500 mg/d flavan-3-ols) was conducted in 259 older adults with either subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment. Participants underwent assessment at baseline, 3 mo, and 12 mo. The primary outcome was the number of false-positives on a picture recognition task from the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery. Secondary outcomes included other cognition and mood outcomes, plasma lipids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glucose levels. A subset of 110 participants underwent structural neuroimaging at baseline and at 12 mo. Results: 197 participants completed the study. The combined intervention had no significant effect on any cognitive outcomes, with the exception of reaction time variability (P = 0.007), alertness (P < 0.001), and executive function (P < 0.001), with a decline in function observed in the OM3FLAV group (118.6 [SD 25.3] at baseline versus 113.3 [SD 25.4] at 12 mo for executive function) relative to the control, and an associated decrease in cortical volume (P = 0.039). Compared with the control group, OM3FLAV increased plasma HDL, total cholesterol ratio (P < 0.001), and glucose (P = 0.008) and reduced TG concentrations (P < 0.001) by 3 mo, which were sustained to 12 mo, with no effect on BDNF. Changes in plasma EPA and DHA and urinary flavonoid metabolite concentrations confirmed compliance to the intervention. Conclusions: These results suggest that cosupplementation with ω-3 PUFAs and cocoa flavanols for 12 mo does not improve cognitive outcomes in those with cognitive impairment. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02525198.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 369-381 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 118 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 12 Jun 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2023 |
Keywords
- Omega-3
- Polyphenols
- Flavonoids
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Subjective cognitive impairment
- Aging
- Cognition
- polyphenols
- cognition
- omega-3
- subjective cognitive impairment
- mild cognitive impairment
- aging
- flavonoids
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Controlled Trials in 'At-Risk' Humans and Rodent Models to Establish the Cognitive Benefits of a Combined Flavanoid/Fatty Acid and Their Underlying Mechanisms of Action (Flavomega)
Minihane, A., Cassidy, A., Cohen (Illinois), N., Johnson, G., Johnson (Illinois), R., Kay, C., Potter, J., Shepstone, L. & Vauzour, D.
16/05/13 → 15/05/16
Project: Research