Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation effects on weight and appetite in patients with Alzheimer's disease: The omega-3 Alzheimer's disease study

OBJECTIVES:

To study the effects of omega (Ω)-3 fatty acid (FA) supplements on weight and appetite in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in relation to inflammatory biomarkers and apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOEε4).

DESIGN:

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING:

Specialist memory clinics in the Stockholm catchment area.

PARTICIPANTS:

Two hundred four patients (aged 73±9, 52% women) with mild to moderate AD.

INTERVENTION:

Patients with AD received 1.7 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 0.6 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (Ω-3/Ω-3 group; n=89, aged 73±9, 57% women) or placebo 0.6 g of linoleic acid per day (placebo/Ω-3 group; n=85, aged 73±9, 46% women) for 6 months. After 6 months, all patients received DHA and EPA for another 6 months.

MEASUREMENTS:

Anthropometry, biochemical nutritional and inflammatory markers, and appetite assessed by caregiver.

RESULTS:

Mean weight and body mass index (kg/m 2) at baseline were 70.0±11.8 kg and 24.3±3.0 kg/m 2, respectively. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, weight had increased 0.7±2.5 kg (P=.02) and 1.4±2.9 kg (P<.001) in the Ω-3/Ω-3 group. In the placebo group, weight was unchanged at 6 months but had increased (P=.01) at 12 months follow-up after Ω-3 supplementation was initiated. Appetite improved in the Ω-3/Ω-3 group over the treatment period (P=.01). In logistic regression analyses, not carrying the APOEε4 allele and high plasma DHA concentrations were independently related to weight gain in the combined group of patients at 6 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION:

A DHA-enriched Ω-3 FA supplement may positively affect weight and appetite in patients with mild to moderate AD. Not carrying the APOEε4 allele and high DsHA were independently associated with weight gain. © 2008, The American Geriatrics Society.