title: The effects of long-chain omega-3 fish oils and multivitamins on cognitive and cardiovascular function: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fish oils and multivitamins are two of the most commonly used dietary supplements. Fish oil use may reduce vascular risk factors associated with cognitive decline, thus providing benefits to both heart and brain health. Multivitamins may also have direct effects on brain function. The present study investigated the effects of fish oil, with and without the addition of a multivitamin, on cognitive and cardiovascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind fashion, 160 healthy adults aged 50-70 years were randomized to receive either 3 g of fish oil (240 mg eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + 240 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) with a multivitamin, 6 g of fish oil (480 mg EPA + 480 mg DHA) with a multivitamin, or 6 g of fish oil without a multivitamin or a placebo. Cognitive performance, brachial blood pressure, and aortic (central) blood pressure were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 16 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment allocation had no effect on the primary cognitive outcomes at endpoint. Absolute increases in the red blood cell omega-3/6 ratio were associated with improvements in spatial working memory. The group receiving 6 g fish oil without the multivitamin displayed a significant decrease in aortic pulse pressure and aortic augmentation pressure, two measures of aortic blood pressure and aortic stiffness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fish oil decreased aortic pulse pressure and augmentation pressure. Reductions in aortic blood pressure were not accompanied by consistent improvements in cognition.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Human Psychopharmacology , Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn , AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pase
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cockerell
authors.forename: Con
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stough
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholey
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipingas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D014815:Vitamins; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: aortic stiffness; blood pressure; cognition; cognitive; fish oil; omega-3