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Link Between Omega-3 Intake and Cognitive Function? The Jury Is Still OutThe omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like fish and fish oil supplements (primarily EPA and DHA) have been under scrutiny lately. For example, a recent story in the Washington Post questioned the value of taking fish oil for preventing heart disease. Now, a new study published in the journal JAMA has found that supplementing with 1,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day for five years had no effect on cognitive function in older adults with age-related macular degeneration. Interestingly, the new study’s findings seem to conflict with some previous research. For instance, a 2013 clinical trial with 36 participants, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, found that taking fish oil supplements (providing 1,740 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day) was linked to improved cognitive function in Malaysian adults with low socioeconomic status that were already experiencing mild cognitive impairment. Here are some possible explanations for these contradictory findings:
The take-away is that more research is needed to understand the relationship between omega-3 supplementation and cognitive function in different groups of people. In addition, the potential health benefits of omega-3s should not be discounted. Previous research has associated omega-3s with increased bone health and immune system support, and decreased incidence of depression. Source: JAMA Copyright © 2024 TraceGains, Inc. All rights reserved. |