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DHA and Neurocognitive Function
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DHA and Neurocognitive Function

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2019) | Viewed by 21739

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Asim K. Duttaroy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Interests: lipids and brain development; fatty acid uptake system in human placenta; angiogenesis; feto-placental growth and development; DHA and cell growth and proliferation; lipid nutrition; eicosanoids; cardiovascular health; platelet function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3 (DHA) is essential for normal healthy brain development, maintenance, and function. In fact, DHA is, quantitatively, the most major fatty acid in the brain. The brain maintains its fatty acid levels via the uptake of plasma free fatty acids. Circulating DHA is significantly related to cognitive abilities during aging and is inversely associated with cognitive decline. Animal studies strongly suggest that dietary deficiency of DHA increases the risk for neurocognitive disorders and that diets enriched with DHA increase learning and memory is protected against cognitive decline during aging. However, whether increased intake of DHA can decrease the risk of brain disorders requires further research. DHA increases serotonin receptor accessibility by increasing membrane fluidity. Studies have observed that a diet characterized by higher intakes of foods high in n‐3 fatty acids, and a lower intake of foods high in n‐6 fatty acids, were strongly associated with a lower Alzheimer’s Disease and other brain disorders. Epidemiological studies support a strong link between low habitual intake of DHA and a higher risk of brain disorders. Supplementation of DHA improves some behaviors associated with ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and impulsive behavior, as well as cognition. Nevertheless, the outcomes of trials with DHA supplementation have been controversial. Although many intervention studies with DHA have shown an apparent benefit, larger clinical trials are required for definitive conclusions. Many studies have shown that DHA metabolism and its signaling systems are involved in neurogenesis, anti‐nociceptive effects, anti‐apoptotic effect, synaptic plasticity, Ca2+ homeostasis in brain diseases, and in the functioning of nigrostriatal pathways. Several metabolites of DHA are also involved in several processes, but full mechanisms are not yet known. Dietary deficiency of n‐3 fatty acids during development in utero and in the postnatal state has detrimental effects on cognitive abilities. Further research in humans is required to assess a variety of clinical outcomes, including quality of life and mental status, by supplementation of DHA.

The objective of this Special Issue on “DHA and Neurocognitive Function” is to showcase the latest research focusing on DHA and its uptake, and metabolism in the brain and signaling systems, mechanisms of action, neuroprotective effects, DHA and brain disorders, dietary intake of DHA and mental health, meta-analyses of intervention studies with DHA on mental health and disorders, and brain growth and development.

The Special Issue is intended to provide a contemporary summary of current knowledge, while providing guidance for future research in the field.

Prof. Asim K. Duttaroy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • DHA
  • Mental health
  • Brain
  • DHA metabolism
  • Cognition
  • DHA uptake and metabolism
  • Neuroprotection
  • Bipolar disease
  • Fetal brain
  • DHA metabolites
  • Docosanoids

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3563 KiB  
Article
Neuroprotective Effects of Diets Containing Olive Oil and DHA/EPA in a Mouse Model of Cerebral Ischemia
by Rafael Gonzalo-Gobernado, María Irene Ayuso, Loredana Sansone, Juan José Bernal-Jiménez, Víctor Darío Ramos-Herrero, Enrique Sánchez-García, Teresa L. Ramos, Rocío Abia, Francisco J. G. Muriana, Beatriz Bermúdez and Joan Montaner
Nutrients 2019, 11(5), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11051109 - 18 May 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4400
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and while there is increasing evidence that a Mediterranean diet might decrease the risk of a stroke, the effects of dietary fat composition on stroke outcomes have not been fully explored. We hypothesize [...] Read more.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and while there is increasing evidence that a Mediterranean diet might decrease the risk of a stroke, the effects of dietary fat composition on stroke outcomes have not been fully explored. We hypothesize that the brain damage provoked by a stroke would be different depending on the source of dietary fat. To test this, male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 4 weeks with a standard low-fat diet (LFD), a high-fat diet (HFD) rich in saturated fatty acids (HFD-SFA), an HFD containing monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) from olive oil (HFD-OO), or an HFD containing MUFAs from olive oil plus polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) (HFD-OO-ω3). These mice were then subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo). Behavioural tests and histological analyses were performed 24 and/or 48 h after tMCAo in order to elucidate the impact of these diets with different fatty acid profiles on the ischemic lesion and on neurological functions. Mice fed with HFD-OO-ω3 displayed better histological outcomes after cerebral ischemia than mice that received an HFD-SFA or LFD. Furthermore, PUFA- and MUFA-enriched diets improved the motor function and neurological performance of ischemic mice relative to those fed with an LFD or HFD-SFA. These findings support the use of DHA/EPA-omega-3-fatty acid supplementation and olive oil as dietary source of MUFAs in order to reduce the damage and protect the brain when a stroke occurs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue DHA and Neurocognitive Function)
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20 pages, 1972 KiB  
Article
Determinants of Plasma Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels and Their Relationship to Neurological and Cognitive Functions in PKU Patients: A Double Blind Randomized Supplementation Study
by Hans Demmelmair, Anita MacDonald, Urania Kotzaeridou, Peter Burgard, Domingo Gonzalez-Lamuno, Elvira Verduci, Melike Ersoy, Gulden Gokcay, Behiye Alyanak, Eva Reischl, Wolfgang Müller-Felber, Fabienne Lara Faber, Uschi Handel, Sabrina Paci and Berthold Koletzko
Nutrients 2018, 10(12), 1944; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121944 - 7 Dec 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5579
Abstract
Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) follow a protein restricted diet with negligible amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Low DHA intakes might explain subtle neurological deficits in PKU. We studied whether a DHA supply modified plasma DHA and neurological and intellectual functioning in PKU. In [...] Read more.
Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) follow a protein restricted diet with negligible amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Low DHA intakes might explain subtle neurological deficits in PKU. We studied whether a DHA supply modified plasma DHA and neurological and intellectual functioning in PKU. In a double-blind multicentric trial, 109 PKU patients were randomized to DHA doses from 0 to 7 mg/kg&day for six months. Before and after supplementation, we determined plasma fatty acid concentrations, latencies of visually evoked potentials, fine and gross motor behavior, and IQ. Fatty acid desaturase genotypes were also determined. DHA supplementation increased plasma glycerophospholipid DHA proportional to dose by 0.4% DHA per 1 mg intake/kg bodyweight. Functional outcomes were not associated with DHA status before and after intervention and remained unchanged by supplementation. Genotypes were associated with plasma arachidonic acid levels and, if considered together with the levels of the precursor alpha-linolenic acid, also with DHA. Functional outcomes and supplementation effects were not significantly associated with genotype. DHA intakes up to 7 mg/kg did not improve neurological functions in PKU children. Nervous tissues may be less prone to low DHA levels after infancy, or higher doses might be required to impact neurological functions. In situations of minimal dietary DHA, endogenous synthesis of DHA from alpha-linolenic acid could relevantly contribute to DHA status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue DHA and Neurocognitive Function)
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13 pages, 648 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Association between n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Depressive Symptoms: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Japan
by Chika Horikawa, Rei Otsuka, Yuki Kato, Yukiko Nishita, Chikako Tange, Tomohiro Rogi, Hiroshi Kawashima, Hiroshi Shibata, Fujiko Ando and Hiroshi Shimokata
Nutrients 2018, 10(11), 1655; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111655 - 3 Nov 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4589
Abstract
It remains unclear whether n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have a preventive effect on depression in the general population. This study investigated the longitudinal association between n-3 LCPUFA intake and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Japanese participants. The participants were aged [...] Read more.
It remains unclear whether n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have a preventive effect on depression in the general population. This study investigated the longitudinal association between n-3 LCPUFA intake and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Japanese participants. The participants were aged 40–79 years at baseline in the cohort study, wherein examinations, including the assessment of depressive symptoms and nutritional status, were biennially conducted from 1997 to 2012. The subjects (n = 2335) who had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score < 16 at the first examination and who participated in the follow-up study at least once were included in the analysis. The follow-up end point was the first onset (CES-D ≥ 16) or the last examination participation. Hazard ratios (95% CIs) for CES-D ≥ 16 were estimated using the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Overall, 22.1% participants showed depressive symptoms during follow-up (average; 8.1 years). Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest HR for EPA was 0.74 (0.60–0.93), and highest and middle HRs for DHA were 0.79 (0.63–0.98) and 0.80 (0.65–0.99) (P for trend = 0.009 and 0.032), respectively. Among populations with high fish consumption, higher n-3 LCPUFA intake may be associated with a low risk of depressive symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue DHA and Neurocognitive Function)
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Review

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17 pages, 963 KiB  
Review
The Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on Cognitive Functions in Psychiatric Disorders
by Valentina Ciappolino, Alessandra Mazzocchi, Andrea Botturi, Stefano Turolo, Giuseppe Delvecchio, Carlo Agostoni and Paolo Brambilla
Nutrients 2019, 11(4), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040769 - 2 Apr 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6140
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is strongly associated with functional outcomes in psychiatric patients. Involvement of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in brain functions is largely documented. DHA is incorporated into membrane phospholipids as structural [...] Read more.
Cognitive impairment is strongly associated with functional outcomes in psychiatric patients. Involvement of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in brain functions is largely documented. DHA is incorporated into membrane phospholipids as structural component, especially in the central nervous system where it also has important functional effects. The aim of this review is to investigate the relationship between DHA and cognitive function in relation to mental disorders. Results from few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of DHA (alone or in combination) in psychotic, mood and neurodevelopmental disorders, respectively, suggest that no conclusive remarks can be drawn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue DHA and Neurocognitive Function)
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