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The effect of omega-3 on executive functions and event-related potentials: A randomized, controlled trial
Date Issued
2017
Conference
Citation
Lam, Y. H., Raine, A., Gao, Y., Fung, A. L. C., Zhang, W., Ng, S. M., & Lee, T. M. C. (2017 Nov 17). The effect of omega-3 on executive functions and event-related potentials: A randomized, controlled trial. S4SN 2017 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Background: Poor nutrition is a risk factor for brain. Prior findings suggest that
nutritional intervention specifically omega-3 supplementation may help enhance
brain structure and function. However, what is less known is by what brain and
behavioural mechanisms for omega- 3 supplementation producing the
neuropsychological improvement specifically the executive function. The present study aims to (1) investigate whether a nutritional intervention to adolescents can
enhance their executive function; and (2) identify the neural correlate by which
omega-3 supplementation enhances executive function in children and
adolescents. Method: This study consisted of a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized controlled trial of 193 children recruited from the primary and
secondary schools in Hong Kong. Adolescents aged between 8 and 18 years old,
residing in Hong Kong. Exclusion criteria consisted of: (1) allergy to fish or fish
products, (2) use of fish oil supplementation in the past six months, (3) intellectual
disability. Children and adolescents were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (1) child
receiving omega-3 drinks (treatment group), (2) child receiving placebo drinks
(placebo group), and (3) child receiving no drinks at all (control group).
Assessments took place at 3 time-points: prior treatment, the end of treatment
and post-treatment. Tower of London (ToL) and ERP adopting the Oddball
paradigm was administered to children at all three time points. Written informed
consent was obtained from the parents while assent will be obtained from
adolescents. Results: Both ERP and behavioral results showed that the executive
function of those in the treatment group had the best enhancement. Specifically,
the initiation time measured by ToL and the right P3 novel/target correlates
measured by ERP were enhanced in the treatment group. Conclusion: By taking
bimodal methods to study the effect of omega- 3 supplementation on the
executive function in children and adolescents, the findings of the present study
suggest that the brain function of children and adolescents can be enhanced by
adopting the nutritional supplementation of omega-3 at the community level. The
present study therefore has clinical implications.
Subjects
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