New studies find mixed results for Omega-3 for elderly
USA: Some older adults may avoid dementia and live longer by taking omega-3 fatty acids. However, it may not brighten the moods of seniors who aren't depressed. According to WebMD, this is the summary of three new studies published in the September edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
According to the article, the three studies focused on older adults and omega-3 fatty acids. Though the focus was on older adults, omega-3 fatty acids are important for people of all ages.
High levels of omega-3 fatty acid EPA in a person's blood may help people live longer. The source for this type of omega-3 is primarily found mainly in fish and not in plants, the first study states.
The study took place in Norway. The researchers measured omega-3 fatty acid blood levels in 254 frail, elderly people (average age: 82) admitted to a Norwegian hospital.
Over the next three years, the patients with high blood levels of EPA were less likely to die than those with low levels of EPA.
That finding may stem from EPA's heart-healthy benefits, since heart disease was to blame for most patient deaths. Other omega-3 fatty acids -- and omega-6 fatty acids, which are more common than omega-3s in the typical American diet -- didn't affect the results.
In the second study, people with high blood levels of EPA were less likely to develop dementia. This study was conducted in France. Researchers tracked new cases of dementia over four years among some 1,200 people aged 65 and older.
Participants provided blood samples at the start of the study. During the study, people with higher EPA blood levels were less likely to develop dementia. And people who ate fish regularly were less likely to develop dementia during the study.
Despite other factors including age, depression, education, diabetes, and the ApoE4 gene mutation (which makes Alzheimer's disease more likely), the results held.
The third study was conducted in the Netherlands. It showed no mood improvement from taking omega-3 supplements in healthy older adults.
This study included 302 people aged 65 and older who weren't depressed. They either took a high dose of EPA and DHA (another omega-3 fatty acid found in fish but not in plants), a lower dose of EPA and DHA, or a placebo, for about six months. Before-and-after scores on depression surveys showed no mood-boosting perks for the omega-3 supplements. However, this may be due to the fact that none of the participants were depressed to begin with. The study was not designed to measure moods either.
