Vitamin E combined with omega-3s and carotenoids for memory in older adults
What it found
Taking vitamin E alongside omega-3 fats and carotenoids for two years led to fewer mistakes on memory tasks in healthy older adults.
The benefit grew as the memory tasks got harder.
What they found
Studies in people
Working memory performance
After 24 months, the supplement group made fewer mistakes on working memory tasks than the placebo group. The gap widened when the memory challenges became harder.
Nutrient levels rose
People taking the supplements showed higher levels of carotenoids in their tissues and blood. Their omega-3 fat levels in the blood also went up compared to the placebo group.
Memory linked to nutrients
Bigger rises in blood and tissue nutrient levels matched bigger improvements in working memory scores. This suggests the amount taken in matters for the effect seen.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest these nutrients work together to support working memory in healthy older adults.
- The authors say raising intake of carotenoids and omega-3 fats could help lower the chance of memory loss and dementia later in life.
How it was done
Earlier research hints that omega-3 fats, carotenoids and vitamin E might each help thinking skills. But no one had tested all three together in healthy people before.
Sixty healthy adults aged 65 or older took part in a trial lasting 24 months. Half took daily capsules containing fish oil, carotenoids and 15 mg of vitamin E. The other half took dummy capsules.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial tested vitamin E together with fish oil and carotenoids, so it cannot show what vitamin E alone does.
- The study only included healthy adults aged 65 or older, so the results may not apply to younger people or those already unwell.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Conflict of Interest Rebecca Power: RP has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC™ (Birmingham, MI, USA). RP is funded in part by the Howard Foundation (registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales #285822), hereafter “Howard Foundation”. These organisations have an interest in commercially available supplements containing the macular carotenoids. RP is also funded by a joint research centre grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine on behalf of the government of Ireland under grant #16/RC/3835—VistaMilk to develop commercial dairy products enriched in carotenoids. John M. Nolan does consultancy work as a Director of NOW Science Consultancy Ltd. for companies with an interest in food supplements. Alfonso Prado-Cabrero: APC has performed consultancy work for MacuHealth LLC™ and the Howard Foundation. APC has also been involved in a Commercialisation Fund Programme from Enterprise Ireland to develop a biotechnological process to produce carotenoids and the fatty acids EPA and DHA. APC is currently supported by grant #16/RC/3835—VistaMilk. Robert Coen, Warren Roche and Tommy Power declare no conflicts of interest. Ríona Mulcahy does consultancy work on behalf of the Howard Foundation.
- Authors work at
- Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland; Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, Ireland; University Hospital Waterford, Ireland
The paper
- Title
- Omega-3 fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation improves working memory in older adults: A randomised clinical trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Power R, Nolan JM, Prado-Cabrero A, et al (2022). Omega-3 fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin E supplementation improves working memory in older adults: A randomised clinical trial. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2021.12.004PubMed 34999335DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error