Rebecca Power1, John M Nolan2, Alfonso Prado-Cabrero3, Warren Roche4, Robert Coen5, Tommy Power6, Ríona Mulcahy7. 1. Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, School of Health Sciences, Carriganore House, Waterford Institute of Technology, West Campus, Waterford, X91 K236, Ireland. Electronic address: rpower@wit.ie. 2. Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, School of Health Sciences, Carriganore House, Waterford Institute of Technology, West Campus, Waterford, X91 K236, Ireland. Electronic address: jmnolan@wit.ie. 3. Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, School of Health Sciences, Carriganore House, Waterford Institute of Technology, West Campus, Waterford, X91 K236, Ireland. Electronic address: aprado-cabrero@wit.ie. 4. Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, School of Health Sciences, Carriganore House, Waterford Institute of Technology, West Campus, Waterford, X91 K236, Ireland. Electronic address: warren.roche@ucdconnect.ie. 5. Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James's Hospital, 31 St. James's Walk, Rialto, Dublin, E191, Ireland. Electronic address: robertfcoen@gmail.com. 6. Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, School of Health Sciences, Carriganore House, Waterford Institute of Technology, West Campus, Waterford, X91 K236, Ireland. Electronic address: tbpower@wit.ie. 7. Age-Related Care Unit, Health Service Executive, University Hospital Waterford, Dunmore Road, Waterford, X91 ER8E, Ireland; Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 Stephen's Green, Saint Peter's, Dublin, D02 YN7, Ireland. Electronic address: drriona.mulcahy@hse.ie.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Accumulating evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3FAs), carotenoids and vitamin E can improve cognitive performance. However, their collective impact on cognition has not yet been investigated in healthy individuals. This study investigated the combined effect of ω-3FA, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation on the cognitive performance of older adults. METHODS: Cognitively healthy individuals aged ≥65 years consumed daily 1 g fish oil (of which 430 mg docosahexaenoic acid, 90 mg eicosapentaenoic acid), 22 mg carotenoids (10 mg lutein, 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin, 2 mg zeaxanthin) and 15 mg vitamin E or placebo for 24 months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial. RESULTS: Following 24-month supplementation, individuals in the active group (n = 30; aged 69.03 ± 4.41 years; 56.7% female) recorded significantly fewer errors in working memory tasks than individuals receiving placebo (n = 30; aged 69.77 ± 3.74 years; 70% female) (point estimate effect sizes ranged 0.090-0.105). Interestingly, as the cognitive load of the working memory tasks increased, the active group outperformed the placebo group. Statistically significant improvements in tissue carotenoid concentrations, serum xanthophyll carotenoid concentrations and plasma ω-3FA concentrations were also observed in the active group versus placebo (point estimate effect sizes ranged 0.078-0.589). Moreover, the magnitude of change of carotenoid concentrations in tissue, and ω-3FA and carotenoid concentrations in blood were related to the magnitude of change in working memory performance. CONCLUSION: These results support a biologically plausible rationale whereby these nutrients work synergistically, and in a dose-dependent manner, to improve working memory in cognitively healthy older adults. Increasing nutritional intake of carotenoids and ω-3FAs may prove beneficial in reducing cognitive decline and dementia risk in later life. STUDY ID NUMBER: ISRCTN10431469; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10431469.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Accumulating evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3FAs), carotenoids and vitamin E can improve cognitive performance. However, their collective impact on cognition has not yet been investigated in healthy individuals. This study investigated the combined effect of ω-3FA, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation on the cognitive performance of older adults. METHODS: Cognitively healthy individuals aged ≥65 years consumed daily 1 g fish oil (of which 430 mg docosahexaenoic acid, 90 mg eicosapentaenoic acid), 22 mg carotenoids (10 mg lutein, 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin, 2 mg zeaxanthin) and 15 mg vitamin E or placebo for 24 months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial. RESULTS: Following 24-month supplementation, individuals in the active group (n = 30; aged 69.03 ± 4.41 years; 56.7% female) recorded significantly fewer errors in working memory tasks than individuals receiving placebo (n = 30; aged 69.77 ± 3.74 years; 70% female) (point estimate effect sizes ranged 0.090-0.105). Interestingly, as the cognitive load of the working memory tasks increased, the active group outperformed the placebo group. Statistically significant improvements in tissue carotenoid concentrations, serum xanthophyll carotenoid concentrations and plasma ω-3FA concentrations were also observed in the active group versus placebo (point estimate effect sizes ranged 0.078-0.589). Moreover, the magnitude of change of carotenoid concentrations in tissue, and ω-3FA and carotenoid concentrations in blood were related to the magnitude of change in working memory performance. CONCLUSION: These results support a biologically plausible rationale whereby these nutrients work synergistically, and in a dose-dependent manner, to improve working memory in cognitively healthy older adults. Increasing nutritional intake of carotenoids and ω-3FAs may prove beneficial in reducing cognitive decline and dementia risk in later life. STUDY ID NUMBER: ISRCTN10431469; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10431469.