Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive functioning in youth at ultra-high risk for psychosis: secondary analysis of the NEURAPRO randomised controlled trial

Nicholas Cheng*, Alison Mclaverty, Barnaby Nelson, Connie Markulev, Miriam R. Schäfer, Maximus Berger, Nilufar Mossaheb, Monika Schlögelhofer, Stefan Smesny, Ian B. Hickie, Gregor E. Berger, Eric Y.H. Chen, Lieuwe De Haan, Dorien H. Nieman, Merete Nordentoft, Anita Riecher-Rössler, Swapna Verma, Rebekah Street, Andrew Thompson, Hok Pan YuenRobert Hester, Alison Ruth Yung, Patrick D. Mcgorry, Kelly Allott, G. Paul Amminger

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

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Abstract

Background Cognitive impairments are well-established features of psychotic disorders and are present when individuals are at ultra-high risk for psychosis. However, few interventions target cognitive functioning in this population. Aims To investigate whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation improves cognitive functioning among individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Method Data (N = 225) from an international, multi-site, randomised controlled trial (NEURAPRO) were analysed. Participants were given omega-3 supplementation (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo over 6 months. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Mixed two-way analyses of variance were computed to compare the change in cognitive performance between omega-3 supplementation and placebo over 6 months. An additional biomarker analysis explored whether change in erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels predicted change in cognitive performance. Results The placebo group showed a modest greater improvement over time than the omega-3 supplementation group for motor speed (ηp2 = 0.09) and BACS composite score (ηp2 = 0.21). After repeating the analyses without individuals who transitioned, motor speed was no longer significant (ηp2 = 0.02), but the composite score remained significant (ηp2 = 0.02). Change in erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels did not predict change in cognitive performance over 6 months. Conclusions We found no evidence to support the use of omega-3 supplementation to improve cognitive functioning in ultra-high risk individuals. The biomarker analysis suggests that this finding is unlikely to be attributed to poor adherence or consumption of non-trial n-3 PUFAs.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere165
TidsskriftBJPsych Open
Vol/bind8
Udgave nummer5
ISSN2056-4724
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by grant 07TGF-1102 from the Stanley Medical Research Institute, grant 566529 from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Australia Program (to P.D.M., I.B.H., A.R.Y. and G.P.A.) and a grant from the Colonial Foundation. K.A. was supported by a Career Development Fellowship from the NHMRC (1141207) and a Dame Kate Campbell Fellowship from The University of Melbourne; G.P.A. and A.R.Y. were supported by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowships 1080963 and 566593 respectively; B.N. was supported by NHMRC Career Development Fellowship 1027532; and P.D.M. was supported by NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1060996.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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