The Effect of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Cognitive Performance and Mood
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids
- Registration Number
- NCT00615277
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Ulm
- Brief Summary
The study investigates whether dietary intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids affects learning and mood of healthy young adults.
- Detailed 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 82
- Healthy young adults
- Coagulation disorder
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description 1 Omega-3 fatty acids 1: omega-3 fatty acid supplement 2 Omega-3 fatty acids 2: olive oil
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Cognition Before intervention and after 16 weeks of intervention
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mood Before intervention and after 16 weeks of intervention