Friday May 23, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Oxidative stress, inflammation, and high cholesterol levels are all associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology while fish consumption is associated with reduced risk of the disease.

Lynne Shinto from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, USA and colleagues conducted a study and found some evidence to suggest taking omega-3 fatty acids plus alpha lipoic acid can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

For the study, three groups with 13 in each group were randomly assigned to receive either placebo, omega-3 fatty acids or omega-3 fatty acid plus alpha-lipoic acid for 12 months. 

Peripheral F2-isoprostane levels which indicates the level of oxidative stress was measured and MMSE, ADL, IADL and ADS-cog were also assessed.

(MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination

ADL - Activities of Daily Living

IADL - Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

ADAS-cog  - Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale)

No significant difference in a biomarker known as peripheral F2-isoprostane was observed among the groups.  And no significant difference in ADAS-cog and ADL was found either between the omega-3 group and the omega-3 plus lipoic acid group.

However, compared to those using placebo, participants who used the omega-3 fatty acids plus alpha lipoic acid experienced less decline in MMSE and IADL, and the group using omega-3 fatty acids alone had less decline in IADL.

The authors concluded the supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid and alpha lipoic acid combo resulted in cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease over a period of 12 months.

The study was small and more research is needed to confirm the conclusion. (David LIu, PHD)

Reference

Title: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Alpha Lipoic Acid in Alzheimer's Disease

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

Authors: Lynne Shinto1, Joseph Quinn1, 2, Thomas Montine3, Hiroko H. Dodge1, William Woodward1, Sara Baldauf-Wagner1, Dana Waichunas1, Lauren Bumgarner1, Dennis Bourdette1, 2, Lisa Silbert1, 2, Jeffrey Kaye1, 2

Affiliations: 1Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

2Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA

3Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA