Effect of 2-y n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive function in older people: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Study answer

What this study found

Two years of EPA+DHA supplementation did not improve cognitive function compared with placebo. For the primary CVLT outcome, the fish oil group changed by -0.02 6 4.7 versus 0.5 6 5.0 in placebo, with an unadjusted between-group difference of -0.5 (95% CI -1.2, 0.2; P = 0.14). Global cognitive function also showed no benefit (difference 0.03, 95% CI -0.05, 0.04; P = 0.77), and there were no significant differences for memory, processing, executive function, or global delay z scores. Cognitive performance remained stable in both groups over 24 months.

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in cognitively healthy adults aged 70–79 years recruited from 20 general practices in England and Wales.

Intervention

Two 650-mg dark-brown, vanilla-flavored soft-gel capsules were taken orally once daily for 24 months.

Key limitation

The study population was cognitively healthy and showed little decline in the placebo group, which limited the ability to detect a protective effect.

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Original abstract