DHA-rich oil modulates the cerebral haemodynamic response to cognitive tasks in healthy young adults: a near IR spectroscopy pilot study

Br J Nutr. 2012 Apr;107(8):1093-8. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511004041. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

The impact of dietary n-3 PUFA on behavioural outcomes has been widely researched; however, very little attention has been given to their impact on brain functioning in physiological terms. A total of twenty-two healthy adults took part in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, wherein the cerebral haemodynamic effects of 12 weeks of daily dietary supplementation with either 1 g DHA-rich or 1 g EPA-rich fish oil (FO) or placebo (1 g olive oil) were assessed. Relative changes in the concentration of oxygenated Hb (oxy-Hb) and deoxygenated Hb were assessed in the prefrontal cortex using near IR spectroscopy (NIRS) during the performance of four computerised cognitive tasks. Supplementation with DHA-rich FO, in comparison with placebo, resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of oxy-Hb and total levels of Hb, indicative of increased cerebral blood flow (CBF), during the cognitive tasks. In comparison, no effect on CBF was observed following supplementation with EPA-rich FO, where concentration changes in the chromophores followed the same pattern as placebo. These encouraging pilot data warrant further application of NIRS in this area.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / drug effects*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oxyhemoglobins / metabolism
  • Pilot Projects
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Oxyhemoglobins
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid