Vitamin E, omega-3 and carotenoids for working memory in older adults
What it found
In a 24-month trial in cognitively healthy older adults, a daily supplement of fish oil, carotenoids and vitamin E led to fewer errors in working memory tasks than placebo.
The authors say the nutrients may work together to support working memory.
What they found
Studies in people
Working memory errors
After 24 months, the active group made significantly fewer errors in working memory tasks than the placebo group. The benefit was larger as the tasks became harder.
Nutrient levels in the body
The active group had significantly higher levels of carotenoids in tissue, xanthophyll carotenoids in blood and omega-3 fatty acids in blood compared with placebo.
Nutrient changes and memory
The size of the change in carotenoid levels in tissue, and in omega-3 and carotenoid levels in blood, was related to the size of the change in working memory performance.
What the authors conclude
“These results support a biologically plausible rationale whereby these nutrients work synergistically, and in a dose-dependent manner, to improve working memory in cognitively healthy older adults.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the results support a biologically plausible rationale whereby these nutrients work synergistically, and in a dose-dependent manner, to improve working memory in cognitively healthy older adults.
- They suggest that increasing nutritional intake of carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids may prove beneficial in reducing cognitive decline and dementia risk in later life.
How it was done
The authors note that omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids and vitamin E have each been suggested to improve cognitive performance, but their combined effect had not been tested in healthy people.
Cognitively healthy people aged 65 and over took either a daily supplement (1 g fish oil, 22 mg carotenoids and 15 mg vitamin E) or a placebo for 24 months. The trial was double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomised, with 30 people in the active group and 30 in the placebo group.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial tested the three nutrients together, so it cannot show which one, or which combination, produced the effect.
- The results apply to cognitively healthy adults aged 65 and over who took these specific doses for 24 months.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error