Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the impact of a six-month multi-ingredient nutrition supplement intervention (Smartfish®), containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamin D, resveratrol, and whey protein, on cognitive function in Irish older adults.
Design
Double-blind, randomised controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02001831). A quantitative, mixedmodel design was employed in which the dependent variable (cognitive function) was analysed with a between-subjects factor of group (placebo, intervention) and within-subjects factor of testing occasion (baseline, three-months, six-months).
Setting
Community-based intervention including assessments conducted at University College Dublin, Ireland.
Participants
Thirty-seven community-dwelling older adults (68-83 years; mean (x̅)= 75.14 years; standard deviation (SD)= 3.64; 18 males) with normal cognitive function (>24 on the Mini Mental State Examination) were assigned to the placebo (n= 17) or intervention (n= 20) via a block randomisation procedure.
Intervention
Daily consumption for six-months of a 200mL liquid juice intervention comprising 3000mg omega-3 PUFAs [1500mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 1500mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)], 10μg vitamin D3, 150mg resveratrol and 8g whey protein isolate. The placebo contained 200mL juice only.
Measurements
A standardised cognitive assessment battery was conducted at baseline and follow-ups. Individual test scores were z-transformed to generate composite scores grouped into cognitive domains: executive function, memory, attention and sensorimotor speed. Motor imagery accuracy and subjective awareness of cognitive failures variables were computed from raw scores.
Results
A hierarchical statistical approach was used to analyse the data; first, by examining overall cognitive function, then by domain, and then by individual test scores. Using mixed between-within subjects, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), no significant differences in overall cognitive function or composite cognitive domains were observed between groups over time. The only significant interaction was for Stroop Color-Word Time (p< 0.05). The intervention group demonstrated reduced task completion time at three- and six-month follow-ups, indicating enhanced performance.
Conclusion
The present nutrition intervention encompassed a multi-ingredient approach targeted towards improving cognitive function, but overall had only a limited beneficial impact in the older adult sample investigated. Future investigations should seek to establish any potential clinical applications of such targeted interventions with longer durations of supplementation, or in populations with defined cognitive deficits.
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of Variance
- AVLT:
-
Auditory Verbal Learning Test
- BMI:
-
Body Mass Index
- CFQ:
-
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
- COWA:
-
Controlled Oral Word Association
- C-W:
-
Color-Word
- DHA:
-
Docosahexaenoic acid
- EPA:
-
Eicosapentaenoic acid
- INT:
-
Intervention Group
- MI:
-
Motor Imagery
- MMSE:
-
Mini Mental State Examination
- PI:
-
Principal Investigator
- PLAC:
-
Placebo Group
- PUFA:
-
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
- RCT:
-
Randomised controlled trial
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- TMT:
-
Trail Making Test
- TUG:
-
Timed Up and Go
- UCD:
-
University College Dublin
- WAIS-III:
-
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III
- x̅:
-
Mean
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Moran, C., Scotto di Palumbo, A., Bramham, J. et al. Effects of a Six-Month Multi-Ingredient Nutrition Supplement Intervention of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, vitamin D, Resveratrol, and Whey Protein on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 5, 175–183 (2018). https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2018.11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2018.11