Thursday Dec 26, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Long term supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid may help slow cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease, a study Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in suggests.

Laboratory studies linked oxidative stress, inflammation and increased cholesterol levels to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and some epidemiologic studies found a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease among people with high fish consumption.

The current study of 32  patients with Alzheimer's disease was intended to evaluate the effects of 12 month-supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids with or without alpha lipoic acid on oxidative stress biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease  including F2-isoprostane levels.  

Also measured was performance on "Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL/IADL), and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog)."

Supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid did not affect peripheral F2-isoprostane levels.  Omega 3 fatty acids with or without alpha lipoic acid had no effect on performance in ADAS-Cog and ADL. 

However, compared with placebo, omega 3 plus alpha lipoic acid slowed decline in MMSE and IADL and omega 3 fatty acids alone slowed decline in IADL.

"The combination of ω-3 + LA slowed cognitive and functional decline in AD over 12 months," the authors reported.

The study was conducted by Lynne Shinto from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, USA and colleagues.