06.01.10
Nutraceutical: Fish oil
Indication: Cognitive function
Source: Am J Clin Nutr, April 21, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].
Research: The OPAL study investigated the effects of taking omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements over a two-year period on the cognitive function of participants aged 70-80 years. The study was a randomized controlled trial that enrolled 867 participants from General Practice clinics in England and Wales. Trial participants who all had good cognitive health at the start of the study were randomly assigned into two groups, one of which received fish oil capsules while the other group received a placebo for two years. Cognitive function was assessed at the start and end of the study by trained research nurses using a series of paper and pencil tests of memory and concentration.
Results: After two years, those participants receiving fish oil capsules had significantly higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their blood than those participants receiving placebo capsules. However, cognitive function did not change over the course of the study in either group of participants and there was no evidence that the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids had a benefit for cognitive function in older people.