Calanus Oil Supplementation Does Not Further Improve Short-Term Memory or Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Women Who Underwent Exercise Training

Abstract

Purpose

In our study, we examined changes in short-term episodic memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in women after an exercise program alone or in combination with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation.

Patients and Methods

Fifty-five healthy elderly women (65–80 years) were randomly split into two groups: in the first group were women attending an exercise program while taking wax esters-rich oil (Calanus) supplementation (n = 28) and in the other group were women undergoing the same exercise program while taking placebo (n = 27). The 16-week exercise program consisted of functional circuit training (twice a week) and Nordic walking lessons (once a week). Short-term episodic memory was evaluated by the Czech screening Test “Pojmenování OBrázků A jejich Vybavení” (POBAV) baseline and after the program lasting 16 weeks.

Results

Our results show that short-term memory significantly improved following the exercise program, but there was no added value in using n-3 PUFA supplements. BDNF values did not differ between baseline and follow-up in either group. However, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between relative change (%) in the POBAV test and VO₂peak in the placebo group (r = 0.49).

Conclusion

Despite the added value of n-3 PUFA supplementation not being proven, our results may strengthen the importance of physical activity in averting age-related memory decline and dementia.

Keywords:

• cognitive function
• n-3 PUFA
• physical activity
• aging
• circuit training
• Nordic walking

Data Sharing Statement

The authors intend to provide full individual data of participants without identification data, upon request. Please send your request for original data to the e-mail address of Klara Daďova, Ph.D.: [email protected].

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethical Committee of the University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady in Prague (research project nr. AZV 16-29182A; NCT number: NCT03386461).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Acknowledgments

We thank the company Calanus AS, Norway, for providing Sunflower oil and Calanus oil capsules. NCT number: NCT03386461.

Disclosure

This manuscript has not been previously submitted or published and is not under consideration in any other peer-reviewed media. Dr Michaela Šiklová reports non-financial support from Calanus Oil a.s., outside the submitted work. The authors declare having no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Additional information

Funding

This work was a part of research project nr. 16-29182A “Effect of Exercise training and Omega-3 fatty acids on metabolic health and Dysfunction of Adipose tissue in elderly” which gained support from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. The manuscript preparation was also supported by the program of the institutional support for the development of science at Charles University Progress, No. Q41 “Biological aspects of the investigation of human movement”. The funding agencies did not play any role in the study design, the data collection, and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript.