Here's more evidence that fish oil
supplementation and antioxidants might be beneficial for at least some people
facing Alzheimer's disease: A new report published in the July 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal describes the
findings of a very small study in which people with mild clinical impairment,
such as those in the very early stages of the disease, saw clearance of the
hallmark amyloid-beta protein and reduced inflammation in neurological tissues.
Although the findings involved just 12 patients over the course of 4 to 17
months, the findings suggest further clinical study of this relatively
inexpensive and plentiful supplement should be conducted.
"Prevention of mild cognitive impairment
progression is one of the best hopes," said Milan Fiala, M.D., Research
Professor at the University of California's Department of Surgery in Los
Angeles. "In addition to physical and mental exercises recommended by
experts, this study suggests that nutrition is equally important."
To make their discovery, Fiala and colleagues
investigated the effects of 4 to 17 months of supplementation with omega-3
fatty acids and antioxidants in 12 patients with minor cognitive impairment, 2
patients with pre-mild cognitive impairment, and 7 patients with Alzheimer
disease. They measured the phagocytosis of amyloid-beta 1-42 by flow cytometry
and microscopy, the transcription of inflammatory genes by RT-PCR, the
production of resolvin D1 by enzyme immunoassay, and the cognitive status by
MMSE.
In patients with mild clinical impairment and
pre-mild clinical impairment, phagocytosis of amyloid-beta by monocytes
increased from 530 to 1306 mean fluorescence intensity units. The increase in
patients with Alzheimer's disease was not significant. The lipidic mediator
resolvin D1, which stimulates amyloid-beta phagocytosis in vitro, increased in
macrophages in 80 percent of patients with mild clinical impairment and
pre-mild clinical impairment. The transcription of inflammatory genes' mRNAs
was increased in a subgroup of patients with low transcription at baseline,
whereas it was not significantly changed in patients with high transcription at
baseline.
"We've known for a long time that omega-3 fatty
acids and some antioxidants can be beneficial to people with a wide range of
health problems, as well as protective for healthy people," said Gerald
Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "Now, we
know that the effects of these supplements may extend to Alzheimer's disease as
well. Although these supplements are considered to be generally safe and are
very easy to obtain, full-scale clinical trials are necessary to verify the
findings of this research and to identify who might benefit the most."
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