The Effect of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Cognitive Performance and Mood

University of Ulm

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00615277

213/2005

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study investigates whether dietary intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids affects learning and mood of healthy young adults.

Full description

The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) of the omega-3 series and AA (arachidonic acid) of the omega-6 series are building blocks of all cell membranes and are found in high concentrations in retina and brain. Food sources of LA and ALA are vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. Since low conversion rates from ALA to DHA are a characteristic of human metabolism, adequate dietary provision with the long-chained omega-3 molecules depends primarily on individual eating habits. While AA is abundant in meat and dairy products, EPA and DHA are found in noteworthy concentrations only in certain species of fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel.

The study investigates whether participants receiving an omega-3 supplement over a period of 4 month, perform better on a series of cognitive tests, than the participants allocated to the placebo group.

Enrollment: 82 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 24 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy young adults

Exclusion criteria

• Coagulation disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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82 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

1: omega-3 fatty acid supplement

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids

2

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

2: olive oil

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids