DHA Improves Cognitive Functions in Age-Related Cognitive Decline Patients

Objective

Many studies have demonstrated that DHA plays an important role in brain development. Decreased level of plasma DHA is associated with cognitive decline in healthy elderly people and in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study was conducted to assess the potential benefits of  DHA supplementation on improving cognitive functions in individuals with age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CANTAB

Study population

A total of 485 male or female subjects aged ≥55 years with a subjective memory complaint and with Mini-Mental State Examination >26 and a Logical Memory (Wechsler Memory Scale III) baseline score ≥1

standard deviation below younger adults were enrolled.

Intervention

900 mg/d DHA, provided as (3) soft-gelatin capsules, each containing 300 mg DHA from algal triglyceride oil.

Results
  • Intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated significantly fewer PAL 6 pattern errors with DHA vs placebo at 24 weeks (difference score, -1.63 ± 0.76 [-3.1, -0.14, 95% CI], P=0.03).
  • Immediate and delayed Verbal Recognition Memory scores were improved on receiving DHA supplementation.
  • Patients receiving DHA experienced increased plasma DHA levels, correlated with improved PAL scores (P<.02).
  • DHA was well tolerated with no reported treatment-related serious adverse events.
Conclusion
  • 24 week of supplementation with 900 mg/d DHA resulted in improved learning and memory function in age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) patients
  • DHA is a beneficial supplement that supports cognitive health with aging.
Source

Yurko-Mauro K, McCarthy D, Rom D, et al. Beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid on cognition in age-related cognitive decline. Alzheimers Dement. 2010s; 6(6):456-64

DHA but not EPA lowers Ambulatory Blood Pressure

Objective

Earlier animal studies have reported that the 2 major omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), might have differential effects on blood pressure BP and heart rate (HR).

This particular study was conducted to assess the differences in the effects of EPA or DHA on ambulatory (BP) and HR in humans.

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Study population

57 men and women, 21-80 years of age, with fasting HDL levels of ≤ 44 mg/dl (in men) and ≤ 54 mg/dl (in women).

Study design

A double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel design trial

Length of study

6 weeks

Intervention

4 g/day of DHA, EPA or placebo respectively

DHA supplementation in men and women with below average HDL level, significantly reduced 24-hour BP and 24-hour HR
Results
  • DHA therapy significantly reduced the 24-hour and daytime (awake) ambulatory BP (p<0.05).
  • The 24 h and daytime BP values were found to be reduced by 5.8/3.3.
  • DHA supplementation reduced 24-h heart rate (HR), daytime HR and nighttime HR by 3. 5±0.8 bpm, 3.7±1.2 bpm, and 2. 8±1.2, respectively.
  • The EPA supplementation did not show any significance in controlling ambulatory BP or HR.
Conclusion

DHA is the principal omega-3 fatty acid and is associated with significant reductions in ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate. Thus, these results indicate the important implications of DHA for human nutrition and the food industry.

Source

Maki KC, et al. Lipid responses to a dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplement in men and women with below average levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005; 24(3):189-199.

DHA shows Beneficial Effects on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Objective

The consumption of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled parallel-design trial was conducted to assess the beneficial effects of algal oil supplement on cardiovascular risk factors.

Omega 3 DHA
Study population

39 men and 40 women

Length of study

4 weeks

Intervention

Subjects were randomized to receive 4 g/day of the algal oil (containing 1.5 g DHA and 0.6 g docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)) or placebo respectively.

DHA supplementation has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors
Results
  • The plasma concentrations of arachidonic acid, adrenic acid, DPA and DHA were significantly increased by 21, 11, 11 and 88 mg/L, respectively in the DHA/DPA oil group compared to placebo (see Fig. 1). The proportions of DPA and DHA in erythrocyte phospholipids were increased by 78% and 27% in DHA/DPA supplemented group.
  • The serum total, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels were found to increase by 0.33mmol/L (7.3%), 0.26mmol/L (10.4%) and 0.14mmol/L (9.0%) in the DHA/DPA supplemented group compared to placebo (p for all ≤ 0.001).
  • Furthermore the Factor VII (FVII) coagulant activity was also found to increase by 12 % in the DHA/DPA treatment group (p=0.006).
Conclusion

DHA/DPA oil supplementation is generally well tolerated and results in significant reductions in the cardiovascular risk factors

Source

Sanders TA, et al. Influence of an algal triacylglycerol containing docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006; 95(3):525-531.

DHA Significantly Reduces the Lipid and Triglyceride levels

Objective

Randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on fasting lipid responses in men and women with below-average levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

omega-3-dha
Study population

57 men and women, 21-80 years of age, with fasting HDL levels of ≤ 44 mg/dl (in men) and ≤ 54 mg/dl (in women)

Length of study

6 weeks

Intervention

Subjects were randomized to receive 1.52 g/day DHA from DHA rich algal triglycerides or olive oil as a control, respectively.

DHA supplementation significantly reduces triglyceride level and triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio

Results
  • DHA supplement showed a significant change in the triglyceride levels, total and LDL-C levels compared to placebo (see Fig. 1). Furthermore the percentage changes were significantly higher in DHA group and [-21 % (DHA) vs. -7% (controls), p=0.009] in triglycerides, total [6% vs. 2%; p=0.018] and low-density lipoprotein [12% vs. 3%; p=0.001] cholesterol concentrations.
  • The triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio [-1.33 vs. -0.50, p=0.010], also significantly reduced in DHA supplemented group compared to control.
  • A significant reduction in the percentage of LDL cholesterol carried by small, dense particles was found in the DHA supplemented group (changes =-10% vs. -3%, p=0.025) in comparison to the placebo.
Source

Maki KC, et al. Lipid responses to a dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplement in men and women with below average levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005;24(3):189-199.

DHA increases duration of gestation

Objective

The effectiveness and role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been proved by numerous clinical studies. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy or early postpartum period have been found to have beneficial effects on duration of gestation . A randomized, double-blind, controlled, clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of increasing DHA intake during the third trimester of pregnancy on overall pregnancy and birth outcomes. The figure depicts the study design and the observations made.

DHA increases duration of gestation
Results
  • Based on the study outcomes, the following observations were made:
  • infant but not maternal red blood cell (RBC) phospholipid DHA increased significantly in the high DHA group
  • High-DHA group had a significant increase in duration of gestation of 6.0 ± 2.3 days compared with the ordinary DHA group (276.5 days vs. 270.5 days, p=0.009).
  • Infants in the DHA supplemented group were significantly longer at delivery (p=0.048) and had a trend toward larger head circumference (p=0.081).
Conclusion
  • Duration of gestation increased significantly when docosahexaenoic acid intake was increased during the last trimester of pregnancy.
  • The increase in gestation was similar to that of previously reported interventions with much larger amounts of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
Source

Smuts CM, Huang M, Mundy D et al. A randomized trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101(3):469-479..