Omega-3 fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation improves working memory in older adults : A randomised clinical trial

Power, Rebecca and Nolan, John M. and Prado-Cabrero, Alfonso and Roche, Warren and Coen, Robert and Power, Tommy and Mulcahy, Ríona (2022) Omega-3 fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation improves working memory in older adults : A randomised clinical trial. Clinical Nutrition, 41 (2). pp. 405-414. ISSN 0261-5614

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding Information: This research was funded by the Howard Foundation UK (UK Charity Registration Number 285822). Dr Alan Howard, founder of the Howard Foundation UK, was involved in the conceptualisation and study design of CARES.Rebecca Power: RP has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC? (Birmingham, MI, USA). RP is funded in part by the Howard Foundation (registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales #285822), hereafter ?Howard Foundation?. These organisations have an interest in commercially available supplements containing the macular carotenoids. RP is also funded by a joint research centre grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine on behalf of the government of Ireland under grant #16/RC/3835?VistaMilk to develop commercial dairy products enriched in carotenoids. John M. Nolan does consultancy work as a Director of NOW Science Consultancy Ltd. for companies with an interest in food supplements. Alfonso Prado-Cabrero: APC has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC? and the Howard Foundation. APC has also been involved in a Commercialisation Fund Programme from Enterprise Ireland to develop a biotechnological process to produce carotenoids and the fatty acids EPA and DHA. APC is currently supported by grant #16/RC/3835?VistaMilk. Robert Coen, Warren Roche and Tommy Power declare no conflicts of interest. R?ona Mulcahy does consultancy work on behalf of the Howard Foundation. Funding Information: Rebecca Power: RP has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC™ (Birmingham, MI, USA). RP is funded in part by the Howard Foundation (registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales #285822), hereafter “Howard Foundation”. These organisations have an interest in commercially available supplements containing the macular carotenoids. RP is also funded by a joint research centre grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine on behalf of the government of Ireland under grant #16/RC/3835 —VistaMilk to develop commercial dairy products enriched in carotenoids. John M. Nolan does consultancy work as a Director of NOW Science Consultancy Ltd. for companies with an interest in food supplements. Alfonso Prado-Cabrero: APC has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC™ and the Howard Foundation. APC has also been involved in a Commercialisation Fund Programme from Enterprise Ireland to develop a biotechnological process to produce carotenoids and the fatty acids EPA and DHA. APC is currently supported by grant #16/RC/3835 — VistaMilk . Robert Coen, Warren Roche and Tommy Power declare no conflicts of interest. Ríona Mulcahy does consultancy work on behalf of the Howard Foundation. Funding Information: This research was funded by the Howard Foundation UK (UK Charity Registration Number 285822 ). Dr Alan Howard, founder of the Howard Foundation UK, was involved in the conceptualisation and study design of CARES. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2900/2916
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Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2022 23:09
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2023 01:35
URI:	http://repository-testing.wit.ie/id/eprint/4336

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