Correlation between changes in blood fatty acid composition and visual sustained attention performance in children with inattention: effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids containing phospholipids.
BACKGROUND
Increasing evidence supports n-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation for patients with psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the exact metabolic fate of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on different glyceride carriers remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether conjugation of EPA and DHA to phospholipid (PL-n-3) or to triacylglycerol (fish oil; FO) affects their incorporation in blood compartments and influences executive functioning.


METHODS
Children aged 8-13 y with impaired visual sustained attention performance received placebo, 250 mg/d EPA + DHA esterified to PL-n-3 (300 mg/d phosphatidylserine), or FO for 3 mo in a randomized double-blind manner. Main outcome measures included plasma and erythrocyte FA profile and continuous performance test results (Test of Variables of Attention; TOVA).


RESULTS
Sixty of the 83 children enrolled completed the interventions (n = 18-21 per group). There was an enrichment of EPA (1.5-2.2-fold), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 1.2-fold), and DHA (1.3-fold) in the PL fraction in the plasma of FO- and PL-n-3-fed children. In erythrocytes, only PL-n-3 resulted in a significant reduction (approximately 30%) of very-long-chain saturated FAs (C20-24) and in an increase (1.2- and 2.2-fold, respectively) in linoleic acid and DPA. Total TOVA scores increased in the PL-n-3 (mean +/- SD: 3.35 +/- 1.86) and FO (1.72 +/- 1.67) groups but not in the placebo group (-0.42 +/- 2.51) (PL-n-3 > FO > placebo; P < 0.001). A significant correlation between the alterations in FAs and increased TOVA scores mainly occurred in the PL-n-3 group.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of EPA+DHA esterified to different carriers had different effects on the incorporation of these FAs in blood fractions and on the visual sustained attention performance in children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00382616.
Vaisman
Nachum
N
Clinical Nutrition Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel. vaisman@tasmc.health.gov.il
Kaysar
Nehemia
N
Zaruk-Adasha
Yahalomit
Y
Pelled
Dori
D
Brichon
Gérard
G
Zwingelstein
Georges
G
Bodennec
Jacques
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D008043:Linseed Oil; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid