EFFECT OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATIONS TO CONTROL COGNITIVE DECLINE IN DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.
BACKGROUND
there is a lack of consensus on the benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementations on cognition in dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease (AD) elderly.


OBJECTIVE
this study presents a systematic review of the results of randomized clinical trials about this topic. The adopted search criteria were randomized clinical trials involving elderly over 65 years of age with no limit to the year of publication of the study.


RESULTS
we identified 139 articles, and from the eligible ones a reverse search was conducted. The quality of the trials was assessed using the Jadad scale. Of the four selected studies, three were related to mild to moderate AD elderly, of both genders. Mini Mental State Examination, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive, and Clinical Dementia Rate were the main tests used to assess cognitive performance.


CONCLUSIONS
EPA and/or DHA supplementations did not affect scores obtained on the cognitive tests. However, supplementation with EPA and/or DHA improved verbal fluency and attention in patients who had only very mild dementia or AD or presented APOEε4 negative genotype. In case of advanced AD elderly patients, EPA and/or DHA supplementations did not reduce cognitive decline rates.
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Dalila Pinto
DP
de Souza Fernandes
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Fabiane Aparecida
FA
Canaan Rezende
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Gabriele
G
Pereira Rocha
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Mariana
M
De Santis Filgueiras
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Patrícia Regina
PR
Silva Moreira
Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Brazil.. dalilaf.ufv@gmail.com.
Rita de Cássia
Rde C
Gonçalves Alfenas
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid