Effect of DHA oil supplementation on intelligence and visual acuity in the elderly

摘要

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 #omega#3) is highly enriched in brain and retinal lipids, and is one of the major highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) of membrane phospholipids. Memory and learning deficits occur in animals during normal aging processes [1, 2], and the concentration of HUFAs in total phospholipids of brain frontal cortex decreases along with aging [3]. A decrease in HUFA levels in total brain lipids of aged rats has also been reported [4]. Many studies using experimental animals have demonstrated that dietary DHA-rich fish oil influences brain development, learning, memory and visual function [5, 6]. Recently, preventative and remedial effects of DHA oil on dementia and mental disorders have also been reported from clinical studies [7, 8]. We have previously reported that feeding DHA-supplemented bread is useful for increasing the uncorrected visual acuity in 11 of the 27 young people with myopia [9]. However, there are few data on the improvement of brain function and vision by DHA supplementation in the elderly. Here, we report a study on the effect of DHA oil supplementation on intelligence scores and visual acuity in the elderly.