Omega-3 and its domain-specific effects on cognitive test performance in youths: A meta-analysis

Sophie Emery; Isabelle Häberling; Gregor Berger; Susanne Walitza; Klaus Schmeck; Therese Albert; Noemi Baumgartner; Michael Strumberger; Mona Albermann; Renate Drechsler

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.016

Omega-3 and its domain-specific effects on cognitive test performance in youths: A meta-analysis

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 May:112:420-436. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.016. Epub 2020 Feb 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: sophie.emery@puk.zh.ch.
² Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: isabelle.haeberling@puk.zh.ch.
³ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Gregor.berger@puk.zh.ch.
⁴ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Human Physiology Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Susanne.walitza@puk.zh.ch.
⁵ Research Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospitals Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: klaus.schmeck@upkbs.ch.
⁶ Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: therese.albert@students.unibe.ch.
⁷ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: noemi.baumgartner@kjpd.uzh.ch.
⁸ Research Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospitals Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: MichaelAlbert.Strumberger@upk.ch.
⁹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: mona.albermann@kjpd.uzh.ch.
¹⁰ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: renate.drechsler@kjpd.uzh.ch.

PMID: 32070694
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.016

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for brain development. The aim of this meta-analysis was to broaden current knowledge of the effects of omega-3 supplementation on cognitive test performance in youths. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting selection criteria were identified through two independent literature searches on PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycARTICLES and PsycINFO (last search June 2019). Twenty-nine out of 1126 studies assessing 4247 participants met all selection criteria. A meta-analysis using random-effects model was performed for eight different cognitive domains. This first analysis revealed no main effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on domain-specific cognitive test performance in youths. Subgroup analyses identified beneficial effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-rich but not docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich formulations in the domains of long-term memory, working memory and problem solving and a tendency towards beneficial effects in clinical rather than non-clinical populations. Future research should investigate differential effects of EPA and DHA and consider their baseline levels, other nutritional components and interactions with gene variations as potential predictors of response.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Cognition; Cognitive development; DHA; EPA; Meta-analysis; Omega-3; PUFA; Standardized psychometric tests.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Cognition / drug effects*
Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology*
Humans
Memory / drug effects*
Problem Solving / drug effects*
Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*

Substances

Docosahexaenoic Acids
Eicosapentaenoic Acid