title: Telomere shortening in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment may be attenuated with ω-3 fatty acid supplementation: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive shortening of the telomeric ends of chromosomes is a marker of accelerated aging. Oxidative stress and nutritional deficiency may influence this process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on telomeric shortening in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three adults ages > 65 y with MCI were randomized to receive a supplement rich in the long-chain ω-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 1.67 g EPA + 0.16 g docosahexaenoic acid DHA/d; n = 12) or DHA (1.55 g DHA + 0.40 g EPA/d; n = 12), versus ω-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA; 2.2 g/d; n = 9) for 6 mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention did not show an increase in telomere length with treatment and there was a trend toward telomere shortening during the intervention period. Linear mixed modeling produced a robust model although statistically underpowered. Telomere shortening was greatest in the LA group (d = 0.21) than in the DHA (d = 0.12) and EPA groups (d = 0.06). Increased erythrocyte DHA levels were associated with reduced telomere shortening (r = -0.67; P = 0.02) in the DHA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telomeric shortening may be attenuated by ω-3 PUFA supplementation, requiring further investigation in larger samples.
authors.affiliation: Preventative Health Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: nathan.o'callaghan@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Physiology Research Centre and Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parletta
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Physiology Research Centre and Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Milte
authors.affiliation: Preventative Health Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benassi-Evans
authors.affiliation: Preventative Health Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenech
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Physiology Research Centre and Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter R C
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D059506:Telomere Shortening / Q000187:drug effects*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: DHA; EPA; Elderly; Mild cognitive impairment; Telomere length; ω-3 fatty acids