Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements and cognitive decline: Singapore longitudinal aging studies

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging health & aging, 2011, Vol.15 (1), p.32-35
• Main Authors: Gao, Q., Niti, M., Feng, L., Yap, K. B., Ng, Tze Pin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Asian People; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - prevention & control; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Humans; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosciences; Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Odds Ratio; Primary Care Medicine; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life Research; Singapore; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-011-0010-z

Objective To determine the association between long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplements intake and cognitive decline in an older Chinese population. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting: The Singapore Longitudinal Aging Studies (SLAS), a community-based study in urban region of Singapore. Participants: 1,475 Chinese adults aged ≥55 years. Measurement Omega-3 PUFA supplements intake and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were assessed at baseline. MMSE was reassessed at a median of 1.5 years after baseline and cognitive decline was defined as at least 2-points drop in MMSE score from baseline to follow-up. Odds ratios (ORs) of association between n-3 PUFA supplements intake and cognitive decline were calculated in logistic regression models controlling for baseline confounding variables. Results Daily n-3 PUFA supplements intake was significantly (p=0.024) associated with lower risk of cognitive decline (OR=0.37, 95% C.I. 0.16–0.87) after controlling for age, gender, education, number of medical comorbidity, the presence of vascular risk factors/diseases, smoking, alcohol drinking, depression, APOE e4 allele carrier status, nutritional status, level of leisure activities, baseline MMSE and length of follow-up. The association remained significant (p=0.015) after excluding participants with baseline cognitive impairment (MMSE