Neurologists from the University of Southern California conducted a study that demonstrated omega-3 supplements cannot protect us from neurodegenerative diseases if people continue eating unhealthy foods and getting little exercise. When fish oil actually works was explained in a publication in the journal The Lancet eBioMedicine.
Results from over 50,000 scientific papers and approximately 5,000 clinical trials have proven that omega-3 does have a positive effect on cognitive health. This is especially relevant for carriers of the APOE4 gene, which increases the risk of dementia. Polyunsaturated fatty acids help lower blood pressure and boost levels of “good” cholesterol, while also providing protection against cancer.
About 35% of the fats that make up the corresponding brain cells come specifically from omega-3. However, the body cannot produce them on its own, and many people do not get enough of this substance from their diet. That is why fish oil supplements are becoming increasingly popular.
But the researchers set out to test whether cognitive health could be maintained using supplements alone. In the experiment, they divided 365 people aged 55 to 80, none of whom had dementia, into two groups. One group took supplements, while the other received a placebo.
All participants initially had low omega-3 levels, along with at least one dementia risk factor: obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or a sedentary lifestyle. Nearly half of them carried at least one copy of the APOE4 gene.
The outcome: those who took the supplement saw an increase in omega-3 levels in their red blood cells, as well as a rise in docosahexaenoic acid concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. However, the volume of the hippocampus in the participants remained unchanged, as did their mental functions, regardless of whether they took the placebo or the supplement.
The conclusion is straightforward: taking omega-3 supplements alone does not help preserve cognitive health. A comprehensive approach is required: reducing stress levels, engaging in physical activity, maintaining healthy sleep, and following a diet rich in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. Only in this combination do fish oil supplements provide benefits.
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