Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Volume 107, Issue 11, Pages 1682-1693Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511004788
Keywords
Mild cognitive impairment; Dementia; Depression; n-3 Fatty acids; EPA; DHA
Categories
Funding
- Australian Research Council
- Novasel Australia
- Australian Centre for Metabolic Fitness
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Depressive symptoms may increase the risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Consumption of n-3 PUFA may alleviate both cognitive decline and depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the benefits of supplementing a diet with n-3 PUFA, DHA and EPA, for depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL) and cognition in elderly people with MCI. We conducted a 6-month double-blind, randomised controlled trial. A total of fifty people aged >65 years with MCI were allocated to receive a supplement rich in EPA (1.67 g EPA + 0.16 g DHA/d; n 17), DHA (1.55 g DHA + 0.40 g EPA/d; n 18) or the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA; 2.2 g/d; n 15). Treatment allocation was by minimisation based on age, sex and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS). Physiological and cognitive assessments, questionnaires and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes were obtained at baseline and 6 months (completers: n 40; EPA n 13, DHA n 16, LA n 11). Compared with the LA group, GDS scores improved in the EPA (P=0.04) and DHA (P=0.01) groups and verbal fluency (Initial Letter Fluency) in the DHA group (P=0.04). Improved GDS scores were correlated with increased DHA plus EPA (r 0.39, P=0.02). Improved self-reported physical health was associated with increased DHA. There were no treatment effects on other cognitive or QOL parameters. Increased intakes of DHA and EPA benefited mental health in older people with MCI. Increasing n-3 PUFA intakes may reduce depressive samples with MCI.
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