| | Summary# 44621
Keywords:
DEMENTIA, AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION, AGING - Omega-3 Fatty Acids, DHA, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Fish, Fish Oil, Brain, Retina, Vision
Topic:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Dementia and Macular Degeneration
Reference:
"Potential role of dietary n-3 fatty acids in the prevention of dementia and macular degeneration," Johnson EJ, Schaefer EJ, Am J Clin Nutr, 2006; 83(suppl): 1494S-8S 45046. (Address: Carotenoid & Health and Lipid Metabolism Laboratories, Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. E-mail: elizabeth.johnson@tufts.edu ).
Summary:
In a review article discussing the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of dementia and macular degeneration, it was concluded that while firm recommendations can not be made at the present, observations based on the Framingham Heart Study suggest that dietary intake of DHA, approximately 180 mg/day or more, equivalent to about 2.7 servings of fish per week, was found to be associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of dementia. Furthermore, data from this study found that plasma PC DHA content predicted the occurrence of dementia, independent of several other variables. Subjects in the highest quartile of PC DHA concentration were found to have a 47% reduced risk of dementia, compared to subjects in the lower 3 quartiles. Subjects in the top quartile of PC DHA concentration were found to consume on average 3 servings of fish/week, or 180 mg of DHA per day (slightly less than the amount found in one capsule of many commercially available fish oil supplements). R esults of an intervention study involving 30 subjects found that supplementation with 640-800 mg/day (oil containing 15% DHA and 3% EPA) improved performance on a dementia scale in 18 of the subjects over a period of 6 months. Results of another study involving 40 subjects found that supplementation with DHA (1.5 g/day) significantly reduced aggressive behavior over a period of 6 months, as compared with a placebo. In terms of the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), results of a population-based survey of vision (Blue Mountains Eye Study) found that consumption of fish was associated with a reduced risk of late age-related maculopathy. Results of a prospective, follow-up study involving 72,489 subjects, of which 567 developed age-related macular degeneration, found that subjects who consumed 4 or more servings of fish per week had a 35% reduced risk of AMD, compared with subjects who consumed fish 3 times per month. A sign! ificant inverse relationship was found particularly with tuna intake. The results of this review suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may play an important role in helping to prevent dementia and age-related macular degeneration. Additional studies – particularly randomized, placebo-controlled, intervention trials – are warranted.
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