Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants are often marketed to promote brain health. But one study to test these supplements has found no evidence that the pills stave off cognitive decline in older people.
The study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, randomly assigned participants to take a lutein/zeaxanthin supplement, a supplement of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EHA), both or a placebo. The study recruited more than 3,500 subjects with an average age of 73.
Researchers evaluated the subjects’ cognitive function when they enrolled and then every two years. At the end of the study, the researchers did not find any differences among groups that had taken supplements and the placebo group.
“Contrary to popular belief, we didn’t see any benefit,” said Dr. Emily Chew, the deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the N.I.H. and the lead author of the study, published in JAMA.
Observational studies have shown that people who eat diets rich in fish and antioxidants have better brain health, but they only prove an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship. In the latest study, it is not known whether longer use of the supplements or use in younger test subjects would have shown a benefit.
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