Omega 3 supplementation does not improve cognitive function in the elderly. However, supplementing before the onset of cognitive impairment could be beneficial.
While many studies suggest that omega 3s protect the brain from degeneration, a large American study shows that, on the contrary, these fatty acids do not slow down cognitive decline in the elderly. These conclusions were published this Wednesday in the scientific journal JAMA.
Carried out among more than 4,000 men and women over 5 years, this study is one of the most important on the subject. Researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the United States first looked at the effect of omega 3s in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Specifically, they tested the effect of a combination of antioxidants and minerals, called AREDS, to which they added omega 3.
The results show that the AREDS cocktail helped slow the progression of AMD in the participants, but the addition of omega 3 did not bring any benefit. Following this first experience, the American researchers decided to study the possible benefits of these fatty acids.
Supplementation has no effect
To do this, the participants were randomly divided into several groups. The first received a placebo, the second omega 3 (docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA), the third lutein and zeaxanthin (naturally present in fruits, these molecules would have a protective effect against AMD) and the fourth omega 3 and the lutein / zeaxanthin combination.
The volunteers took memory tests and exams assessing cognitive functions at the start of the study, and then two and four years later. It then appears that the cognitive abilities of all groups decreased, indicating that no supplementation made a difference.
“It is possible that the time of life when these dietary supplements are taken or what diet they are included in has an impact,” said Lenore Launer, a researcher at the National Institute on Aging, an NIH-dependent organization. Further work will be necessary to find out if taking these supplements before the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s can have a beneficial effect ”.
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