Digit span improvement following long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation: A preliminary study

Title
Digit span improvement following long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation: A preliminary study
Publication Date
2010
Author(s)
Hanstock, Tanya
Hinreth, SJ
Hazell, PL
Kable, CJ
Clayton, EH
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Australasian Medical Journal Pty Ltd
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.4066/AMJ.2010.209
UNE publication id
une:8489
Abstract
Background: Neurocognitive deficits are reported in participants with juvenile Bipolar Disorder (JBD) including digit span. Digit span is an indicator of short-term auditory memory, working memory, concentration and attention. Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA) are important to brain development and functioning, however, their effects on neurocognitive function are not clear. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of LCn-PUFA supplementation on digit span ability in children and adolescents with JBD. Design: Fifteen participants with JBD (9-18 yr) consumed LCn-3PUFA supplements containing 360 mg day-1 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1560 mg day-1 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for 6 weeks in an open-label preliminary study. Digit span and red blood cell (RBC) LCn-3PUFA concentrations were assessed prior to and following supplementation. Outcomes: Digit Backwards (2.3 ± 0.45 vs 3.2 ± 0.46, p = 0.010) and Scaled Overall Digit Span (11.1 ± 0.70 vs 12.1 ± 0.72, p = 0.046) significantly improved following supplementation. RBC DHA was significantly positively correlated to longest digit span backwards (r = 0.84, p < 0.001) and overall digit span scaled scores (r = 0.62, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Supplementation with LCn-3PUFA was associated with improvements in neurocognitive functioning. Further studies should examine other neuropsychological outcomes in a larger sample in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and whether cognitive deficits associated with JBD can be prevented.
Link
Citation
Australasian Medical Journal, 3(1), p. 131-131
ISSN
1836-1935
Start page
131
End page
131

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