title: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation effects on weight and appetite in patients with Alzheimer's disease: the omega-3 Alzheimer's disease study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of omega (Omega)-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 epsilon4 (APOEepsilon4).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialist memory clinics in the Stockholm catchment area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred four patients (aged 73+/-9, 52% women) with mild to moderate AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AD received 1.7 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 0.6 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (Omega-3/Omega-3 group; n=89, aged 73+/-9, 57% women) or placebo 0.6 g of linoleic acid per day (placebo/Omega-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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 Omega-3/Omega-3 group. In the placebo group, weight was unchanged at 6 months but had increased (P=.01) at 12 months follow-up after Omega-3 supplementation was initiated. Appetite improved in the Omega-3/Omega-3 group over the treatment period (P=.01). In logistic regression analyses, not carrying the APOEepsilon4 allele and high plasma DHA concentrations were independently related to weight gain in the combined group of patients at 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A DHA-enriched Omega-3 FA supplement may positively affect weight and appetite in patients with mild to moderate AD. Not carrying the APOEepsilon4 allele and high DHA were independently associated with weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University, Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. gerd.faxen.irving@ki.se
authors.forename: Gerd Faxén
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Freund-Levi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksdotter-Jönhagen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Basun
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brismar
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hjorth
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmblad
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vessby
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vedin
authors.forename: Lars-Olof
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Wahlund
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cederholm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000097:blood; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3