Published on July 7, 2022
Video Friday: New study finds a significant correlation between B vitamins and maintaining cognitive health, but only with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the blood
Key Points
- Omega-3s, B vitamins, as well as vitamin D, magnesium, and other nutrients, have demonstrated potential protective effects for cognitive health
- A new study that originally set out to determine the effectiveness of vitamin B12 and folic acid on cognitive decline discovered a significant correlation with B vitamin supplementation only after considering the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood
- The study showed that individuals with higher plasma DHA levels benefitted more from vitamin B12 and folic acid use compared to those with lower DHA levels
A study by van Soest et al., which originally set out to determine the effectiveness of vitamin B12 and folic acid on cognitive decline, discovered a significant correlation with B vitamin supplementation only after considering the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. The video below by Lifespan News, titled Vitamin B & Omega-3 Linked to Cognitive Health in New Study, gives a quick summary of these findings.
Watch the Video
After watching the video, be sure to make note of our added details below!
Video & Study Summary
The study included data from 191 healthy adults, ages 65 years or older, half of whom had been given daily vitamin B12 (500 ug) and folic acid (B9, 400 ug) for two years, and the other half who were given placebo
Omega-3 blood levels were obtained from all participants at baseline and blood level results were divided into groups of low, middle and high
Measurements of cognitive health included tests for global cognition, episodic memory, attention and working memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning
While the initial analysis showed a slight but insignificant association between B vitamin supplementation alone and higher overall cognitive scores after the two years, including the level of DHA in the analysis indicated a significant correlation between the B vitamin supplementation and participants with higher levels of DHA with maintaining cognitive function and health
As the study concludes, “This post-hoc analysis indicated that efficacy of B-vitamin supplementation in slowing cognitive decline relates to DHA status, with individuals with higher plasma DHA levels benefitting more from vitamin B12 and folic acid use.”
This is not the only study to show how omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins can benefit cognitive health…
- Studies have shown a potential role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of both emotional disorders and cognitive disorders in general, as well as among women during menopause
- Past studies suggest getting enough B vitamins can help prevent brain atrophy, dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease, especially among those with high homocysteine levels
Vitamin D, magnesium, and other nutrients are also important for cognitive health!
Measure Your Omega-3 Levels to Make Sure You are Getting Enough
Have you measured your Omega-3 Index, which shows you how much DHA and EPA are in your blood and tissues? Scientists recommend a target Omega-3 Index of 8% or higher. Testing is essential, as there is a large amount of variability in the omega-3 status for different people with the same intake amount (similar to vitamin D!). For example, a GrassrootsHealth analysis showed that the range of response with 1000 mg of EPA+DHA per day was 5.7% to 10.2%. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals measure their Omega-3 Index and determine a personalized dose using the Omega-3 calculator to achieve a minimum Omega-3 Index of 8%.