Brain Health across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review on the Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements.
Nutrients. 2018 Aug 15;10(8). pii: E1094. doi: 10.3390/nu10081094.
Derbyshire E
Nutritional Insight Limited, Surrey KT17 2AA, UK. emma at nutritional-insight.co.uk.
Includes extensive review of 25 Randomized Controlled Trials
Items in both categories Cognitive and Omega-3 are listed here:
- Better cognition associated with higher Omega-3 index – Sept 2023
- Alzheimer’s delayed 4.7 years by high Omega-3 index (7.6 years if also have APOE-4) June - 2022
- Dementia 4.1 X high risk in those with low Vitamin D, Omega-3, etc.2 decades before (behind paywall) – Nov 2021
- Early brain development helped by Iron, Iodine, Vitamin D, Omega-3. Zinc etc. – Oct 2021
- Omega-3 paused Alzheimer's decline - RCT Sept 2021
- Seafood (Omega-3) during pregnancy increased childhood IQ by 8 points – review Dec 2019
- Omega-3 index of 6 to 7 associated with best cognition in this study – Nov 2019
- Eating fish improves cognition (Omega-3 fish during pregnancy in this case) - Oct 2019
- Mental disorders fought by Omega-3 etc. - meta-meta-analysis Oct 2019
- Omega-3 prevents Parkinson’s Disease – Review of RCT July 2019
- Omega-3 helps brains of seniors – May 2019
- Omega-3 helped Alzheimer’s only if good level of B vitamins – RCT April 2019
- Standard Omega-3 not get past BB barrier in seniors at high risk of Alzheimer’s – Patrick hypothesis Oct 2018
- APOE4 gene problems (Alzheimer’s) reduced by both Vitamin D and Omega-3 - Dec 2018
- Omega-3 is important for Brain Health during all phases of life – Aug 2018
- Hypothesis: Omega-3 reduces Alzheimer’s directly and via the gut – Sept 2018
- Improve Cognitive Health and Memory with Vitamin D and Omega-3 – World Patent March 2018
- IQ levels around the world are falling (perhaps lower Vitamin D, Iodine, or Omega-3)
- Adding Vitamin D, Omega-3, etc to children’s milk improved memory (yet again) – RCT June 2018
- Omega-3, Vitamin D, Folic acid etc. during pregnancy and subsequent mental illness of child – March 2018
- Why Alzheimer’s studies using Omega-3 have mixed results – quality, dose size, Omega-6, genes, etc. March 2018
- Benefits of Omega-3 beyond heart health - LEF Feb 2018
- Supplementation while pregnant and psychotic – 20 percent Omega-3, 6 percent Vitamin D – June 2016
- ADHD, Autism, Early Psychosis and Omega-3 – review Dec 2017
- Mild Traumatic Brain Injury prevented with Omega-3, Resveratrol, etc (in rats) – Oct 2017
- Omega-3 found to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in animals – Sept 2017
- The End of Alzheimer's and Dementia if adjust Vitamin D, B-12, Iron, Omega-3, etc.
- Violent schizophrenia patients treated by 3 months of Omega-3 – RCT Aug 2017
- Psychosis risk reduced for 80 weeks by just 12 weeks of Omega-3 – RCT Aug 2017
- Alzheimer’s (apoE4) may require more than Omega-3 - May 2017
- Infants getting 1 g of Omega-3 for 12 weeks got better brains – RCT March 2017
- Omega-3 reduces many psychiatric disorders – 2 reviews 2016
- Cognitive Impairment 1.8 times more likely if low Omega-3– Oct 2016
- Omega-3 may treat schizophrenia
- Benefits of Omega-3 on brain development
- Omega-3 helps childhood cognition – meta-analysis April 2016
- Football Brain injuries prevented by Omega-3 – RCT Jan 2016
- Schizophrenia treated by 6 months of Omega-3 – RCT Nov 2015
- Omega-3 and infant development - dissertation Sept 2015
- Omega-3 etc improved both cognition and mobility of older women – Aug 2015
- Schizophrenia relapses reduced 3X by Omega-3 – RCT Mar 2015
- Cognitive decline in elderly slowed by Omega-3 – meta-analysis May 2015
- Cognitively impaired brain atrophy was slowed 40 percent by Omega-3 and B vitamins – RCT July 2015
- Omega-3, Vitamin D, and other nutrients decrease mental health problems – March 2015
- Vitamin D, Omega-3 supplementation helps cognition – perhaps due to serotonin – Feb 2015
- Vitamin D and Omega-3 may reduce cortical atrophy with age – Nov 2013
- Alzheimer’s and Vitamins D, B, C, E, as well as Omega-3, metals, etc. – June 2013
- Spinal cord problems more likely if TBI if little Omega-3 in diet – June 2013
- Traumatic brain injury treated by Vitamin D Progesterone Omega-3 and glutamine – May 2013
Items in both categories ADHD and Omega-3 are listed here:
- ADHD risk factors include low Zinc, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Omega-3 (umbrella review) – Oct 2020
- Mental disorders fought by Omega-3 etc. - meta-meta-analysis Oct 2019
- Behavior disorders reduced with Magnesium, Omega-3, and Zinc
- ADHD children eat less fatty fish (Omega-3 again) – May 2019
- Omega-3 probably can decrease Autism and ADHD – March 2019
- Omega-3 reduced violence in children and violence between parents – RCT May 2018
- ADHD, Autism, Early Psychosis and Omega-3 – review Dec 2017
- ADHD 2 times more likely if poor Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio – meta-analysis May 2016
- ADHD and Vitamin D Deficiency
Items in both categories Autism and Omega-3 are listed here:
- Many autistic children are getting some Vitamin D, Omega-3, probiotics, etc. – Aug 2019
- Autistic symptoms reduced by Vitamin D and or Omega-3 – RCT March 2019
- Omega-3 probably can decrease Autism and ADHD – March 2019
- Autism treated in one person by Omega-3 plus Vitamin D – Dec 2018
- Autism problems reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3 – RCT Oct 2018
- ADHD, Autism, Early Psychosis and Omega-3 – review Dec 2017
- Autism risks include chemicals, deficiency of vitamin D, Omega-3 – mini-review April 2016
- Serotonin regulated by Vitamin D – part 1 autism – Feb 2014
Vitamin D and Omega-3 category starts with
CIlck here for details
10 most recently added items in Omega-3 Category
Chart is online, but not in the PDF
 Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
The brain is the most significant and complex organ of the human body. Increasingly, we are becoming aware that certain nutrients may help to safeguard brain health. An expanse of research has investigated the effects of omega fatty acids in relation to brain health but effects across the lifespan have not been widely evaluated.
The present systematic review collated evidence from 25 randomized controlled trials (n = 3633) published since 2013. Compared with control groups, omega-3 supplementation generally correlated with improvements in blood biomarkers. Subsequently, these appear to benefit those with lower baseline fatty acid levels, who are breastfeeding or who have neuropsychiatric conditions. Whilst multiple studies indicate that omega fatty acids can protect against neurodegeneration in older adults, more work is needed in the years preceding the diagnosis of such medical conditions. Bearing in mind the scale of ageing populations and rising healthcare costs linked to poor brain health, omega supplementation could be a useful strategy for helping to augment dietary intakes and support brain health across the lifespan. Ongoing research is now needed using harmonious methodologies, supplement dosages, ratios and intervention periods to help formulate congruent conclusions.
Potential Extended Roles:
Anticoagulation
Cardio-protective effects
Cognitive function
Fetal development
Immune function
Improved insulin sensitivity in Asians
Neuronal function
Reduced risk of breast cancer (women)
Reduced risk of colorectal cancer (men)
Reduced risk of ischemic stroke (men and women)
Reduced total stroke risk (women)
Retinal function
Weight management
Potential underpinning mechanisms:
Altered membrane fluidity
Anti-inflammatory effects
Improved neurogenesis esp. in the hippocampus
Modified gene expression
Modified intracellular signaling
Modulation of ion channels
Optimized brain repair mechanisms
Protected synaptic transmission
Reduced production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids
Discussion (from PDF)
There is a strong body of evidence signifying that omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources are under consumed. For example, systematic evidence from 53 studies across 17 different European countries shows that mean intakes of EPA and DHA are only consumed as recommended in 26% of countries, indicating that intakes are largely suboptimal [55]. Evidence from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey similarly shows that childbearing aged women are eating seafood in amounts significantly lower than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans contributing to low habitual intakes of EPA and DHA [56].
Along with concerns over inadequate EPA and DHA intakes, interest in the "preservation" of brain health is emerging [3,55]. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has identified the risks of poor brain health as being similar and closely associated to those of cardiovascular disease [3]. Within their practical considerations, seven key ideal health behaviors are identified which include: not smoking, physical activity, a healthy body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels and diet aligned with current healthy eating guidelines [3]. Increasingly, mindfulness is also being seen as a useful adjunctive therapy amongst those with ADHD [57,58] with this strategy also appearing to help reduce stress amongst older adults with memory complaints [59].
From a dietary perspective, findings from RCTs showed that omega fatty acid supplementation could help to reinforce habitual intakes by raising blood levels. For example, improvements in lipid profiles were observed in at least seven studies [30,34,36,37,49,52,53]. Certain subgroups such as those with lower baseline blood fatty acids levels [40,45,50], who are breastfeeding infants [34,36] or who have neuropsychiatric conditions such as ADHD, ASD or depression, also appear to benefit more strongly from omega use [29,31,35,39,54].
Most studies focused on the role of omega fatty acids in children and teenagers [30-33,35-37,39]. Of these, the majority were conducted on children with ADHD or ASD [29,31,35,49] whilst two trials focused on mainstream children [38,39]. Omega fatty acids were found to improve ADHD symptoms and fatty acid profiles [31,35,49]. Amongst mainstream school children, 3-months of Omega 3/6 treatment improved reading ability - specifically the clinically relevant "phonologic decoding time" and "visual analysis time", with children with attention problems again showing particular benefits [39].
In the case of older adults, a number of studies alluded that omega fatty acids could help to protect against neurodegeneration and the chances of developing cognitive impairment [44,48,50-53]. Similar conclusions have been formulated in other reviews, reflecting the current strength of the evidence base [60,61]. Whilst some research has looked into markers of brain health in the middle years of life, outcomes studied varied and findings were not strong enough to warrant any firm conclusions.
3644 visitors, last modified 25 Dec, 2018, |
ID | Name | Uploaded | Size | Downloads | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11084 | Omega-3 brain lifespan.jpg | admin 25 Dec, 2018 | 26.05 Kb | 468 | |
11005 | Brain Health omega3.pdf | admin 07 Dec, 2018 | 606.74 Kb | 532 |