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# B vitamins plus omega-3 fatty acids effective against cognitive decline
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/b_vitamins_plus_omega-3_fatty_acids_0202160803/
- Published: 2016-02-02T21:03:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:22:13.000Z
- Description: In a two-year trial of 266 people aged 70 and older with mild cognitive impairment, B vitamins improved global cognition, dementia rating and verbal recall only among those with high blood omega-3 levels. DHA drove the effect; omega-3s alone did not help.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Tue. Feb 2, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- At least one trial has indicated that B vitamin supplementation to lower homocysteine slowed cognitive decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. A new trial now further found that high serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids boost the efficacy of B vitamin treatment.

For the trial, 266 people with mild cognitive impairment aged 70 or older were randomized to receive either B vitamins including folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 or placebo for a period of two years.

To assess the efficacy of the treatment on cognitive decline, researchers measured cognitive test performance, clinical dementia rating and serum concentrations of homocysteine, total docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - two commonly seen omega-3 fatty acids sold on the supplement market.

As a result, the researchers found measures of global cognition, clinical dementia rating score and verbal delayed recall were all better in the study group treated with B vitamin who also had high serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids alone without B vitamins did not seem to have an effect on these parameters.

Of those with high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, 35% of those treated with B vitamins had global clinical dementia rating scores that were greater than zero, compared to 59% of those treated with placebo.

Also the researchers discovered only DHA at high levels enhanced the protective effect of B vitamins on cognitive measures including global cognition, clinical dementia rating score and verbal delayed recall. EPA seemed less effective than DHA.

The study concluded that B vitamins are not effective at low serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids while omega-3 fatty acids without B vitamins have no effect on cognitive decline either. (David Liu)

Oulhaj, Abderrahima; Jernerén, Fredrik, Refsum, Helg, Smith, A. David, de Jager, Celeste A., Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status Enhances the Prevention of Cognitive Decline by B Vitamins in Mild Cognitive *Impairment, Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 547-557, 2016*