The literature is replete with research that indicates dietary supplements can provide benefits not provided by whole foods. This is because modern farming methods, environmental problems, storage conditions, exercise and the stress associated with modern living deplete our bodies and food of nutrients needed for optimum health. As a result large numbers of people are turning to dietary supplements to attain their daily requirement of nutrients. In particular, fish oil supplements are popular because they have show to be beneficial to the health in a number of ways. Fish oil supplements may protect from cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. In addition, fish oils may also protect those who regularly consume them from dementia and cognitive decline associated with ageing.
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 20041 investigated the effects of fish oil supplement use of cognitive ability in ageing subjects. The study picked subjects who where born in 1936 and had their mental agility tested in 1947. The individuals were then retested in 2000 to 2001 and their supplement use was recorded. Those subjects who consumed dietary supplements of marine oils in late adulthood had improved cognitive ability over those who did not. The intelligent quotient (IQ) at age 64 years was significantly correlated with erythrocyte membrane n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content, as well as with the ratio of docosahexanoic acid to arachidonic acid and with the ratio on n-3 to n-6 fatty acids. These results support the research of other groups who have investigated the effects of n-3 oils and cognition.
Fish oils in dietary supplements may decrease the risk of dementias in ageing individuals because n-3 fatty acid present in fish are essential to proper brain function. Fish oils high in n-3 fatty acids increase fluidity in neuronal membranes, decrease inflammation and are involved in the formation of eicosanoid hormones. The consumption of n-3 fatty acids is associated with cognitive function and this supports research that demonstrates a protective effect from Alzheimer’s disease. While research has shown that fish is as good as fish oil supplements at raising the n-3 fatty acid content of red blood cell membranes, some people do not like to eat fish and so supplements are a viable alternative. Vegetarians who cannot consume fish can attain the same effect by eating plants high in alpha linolenic acid, such as flax, walnut or hemp, and their oils.
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