Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status Enhances the Prevention of Cognitive Decline by B Vitamins in Mild Cognitive Impairment

FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:

Findings from this 2-year clinical trial (the Oxford Vitacog Study) have already shown benefits in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment from dietary supplementation with Vitamins B6, B12 and folate for:

• reducing brain shrinkage, as assessed via MRI over the 2-year period (Smith et al 2010, Douad et al 2013)
  
  
• reducing cognitive decline (de Jager et al 2012)

This new study reveals that the protective effect of B vitamins on cognitive decline and dementia depended on omega-3 status.
Only those participants with medium or highest plasma omega-3 levels showed reduced cognitive and clinical decline. Those with the lowest omega-3 did not benefit from the B vitamins.

These findings mirror those from an earlier study, showing that physical brain shrinkage following B vitamin supplementation also depended on good omega-3 status. (Jernerén et al., 2015)


For a summary of this research, see the associated news article here:

• Omega-3 levels affect whether B vitamins can slow brain’s decline

See also:

• Jernerén et al., 2015 - Brain atrophy in cognitively impaired elderly: the importance of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids and B vitamin status in a randomized controlled trial.

• Douad et al 2013 - Preventing Alzheimer's disease-related gray matter atrophy by B-vitamin treatment

• de Jager et al 2012 - Cognitive and clinical outcomes of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamin treatment in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

• Smith et al 2010 - Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.