12.01.10
DHA failed to slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, according to research reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in November. Researchers followed 402 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, who were randomly assigned to take 2 grams a day of omega 3 capsules containing DHA or a placebo. They continued their treatment for 18 months. Cognitive function was measured upon entering the study, and again at six months, 12 months and 18 months. They also had MRIs taken of their brains. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) responded to the findings, saying that this most recent study does not diminish the important benefits of DHA. “The concern with this study is that it focused on supplementing DHA in individuals who were currently coping with Alzheimer’s disease. It didn’t answer the question of whether DHA—taken over long periods of time and several years prior to disease onset—could have helped prevent these participants from developing the disease,” said Duffy MacKay, ND, vice president of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, CRN. “Further, the study only tested DHA under the assumption that it could be used as a treatment, which is highly unlikely given how little we know about Alzheimer’s disease. There is still much to be learned about the potential of DHA—and all omega 3 fatty acids—and the many health benefits they offer consumers.”
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), Salt Lake City, UT, published a “Rapid Review” analyzing the study in its Advances in EPA and DHA Research newsletter. “Two prior studies, MIDAS and OmegAD, were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that showed a benefit to individuals with age-related cognitive decline or very mild Alzheimer’s disease, respectively,” said Harry Rice, PhD, vice president of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, GOED. “This study leaves open the possibility that DHA supplementation prior to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease could provide a neuroprotective benefit, such as delayed onset of symptoms and delayed progression of disease.” Additionally, the trial did not examine supplementation with EPA, another important omega 3 fatty acid. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008 suggested that a high plasma EPA concentration might decrease the risk of dementia.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), Salt Lake City, UT, published a “Rapid Review” analyzing the study in its Advances in EPA and DHA Research newsletter. “Two prior studies, MIDAS and OmegAD, were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that showed a benefit to individuals with age-related cognitive decline or very mild Alzheimer’s disease, respectively,” said Harry Rice, PhD, vice president of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, GOED. “This study leaves open the possibility that DHA supplementation prior to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease could provide a neuroprotective benefit, such as delayed onset of symptoms and delayed progression of disease.” Additionally, the trial did not examine supplementation with EPA, another important omega 3 fatty acid. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008 suggested that a high plasma EPA concentration might decrease the risk of dementia.