A research team led by Professor Kim Ki-woong from the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) analyzed the impact of omega-3 intake and its duration on cognitive function in adults aged 40 and above without dementia, the SNUBH said on Tuesday. 

Omega-3s are a class of fatty acids primarily composed of EPA and DHA, known to enhance cognitive function by improving lipid profiles, protecting blood vessels with anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects, and supporting neurodevelopment and synaptic function. 

While previous studies on omega-3 intake guidelines have concentrated on cardiovascular disease prevention, research on using omega-3s specifically for cognitive function management has been lacking.

Kim and his colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of existing studies to examine the relationship between omega-3 intake and cognitive function in people aged 40 and older without dementia. 

Meta-analysis involves selecting, analyzing, and summarizing relevant studies on a specific topic. This approach provides high statistical power, yielding optimal insights into topics with varied findings.

The team selected 24 studies out of 1,386 papers on omega-3s based on criteria including random selection of participants over 40 years old, placebo control, study duration of more than three months, and valid cognitive test outcomes. Altogether, the selected studies involved 9,660 participants aged 40 and older without dementia, with study durations spanning three to 36 months and omega-3 doses ranging from 230 mg to 4,000 mg per day. A meta-analysis was subsequently performed.

The results indicated that omega-3 supplementation enhances executive function—a key type of cognitive function—in individuals aged 40 and older without dementia, particularly within the first 12 months of use. The benefits were most pronounced with daily doses of 500 mg or more of omega-3s, or up to 420 mg of EPA. 

Executive function is the ability to control and regulate several subcognitive abilities, including goal setting, planning, and behavior regulation.

This is the first meta-analysis to investigate the effects of omega-3 intake and duration on executive function in midlife. 

Notably, the researchers went beyond examining the general association between omega-3s and executive function by pinpointing specific intake amounts and durations expected to produce positive effects on this cognitive function.

“While previous omega-3 intake guidelines have primarily focused on cardiovascular disease prevention, this study is significant as it identifies the amount of omega-3 intake that can support executive function,” Professor Kim said. “Incorporating more omega-3-rich foods, such as mackerel, bluefish, eggs, almonds, and tofu, into our diets can help maintain a healthy brain.”

The study was published in BMC Medicine (Impact Factor 9.3), a peer-reviewed SCIE-indexed international medical journal.