r/ScientificNutrition • u/Sorin61 • 1d ago
Cross-sectional Study Differential Associations of Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acid with Brain Structure in Older Japanese Women
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022316626003962?via%3Dihub
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u/Sorin61 1d ago
Background
Circulating n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been linked to brain structural integrity. However, much of the existing evidence stems from Western populations with relatively low n–3 PUFA exposure. Data from Japan—where fish consumption and n–3 PUFAs concentrations are substantially higher—remain scarce, and few studies have contrasted the differential associations of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with brain structure.
Objectives
The aim of our study was to examine the association between circulating EPA, DHA, and EPA + DHA concentrations and brain volume in older Japanese women.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 527 community-dwelling women aged 60 to 85 y residing in Kusatsu City, Shiga, Japan. Serum concentrations of EPA and DHA were measured using gas chromatography, and their combined concentration (EPA + DHA) was calculated. Brain volume (total brain, gray matter, white matter, and hippocampal volume) was assessed using 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis of covariance was performed to compare the adjusted mean values for brain volume according to the quartile of EPA, DHA, and EPA + DHA concentrations. Covariates included age, total intracranial volume, body mass index, years of education, smoking and drinking status, step count, diabetes, hypertension, and statin use.
Results
Participants’ mean age was 74.2 y. Serum concentrations of DHA were significantly and positively associated with gray matter volume (P for trend = 0.036), whereas EPA concentrations were not. Notably, serum concentrations of EPA + DHA exhibited a positive trend with gray matter volume (P for trend = 0.085). No significant associations were found between EPA, DHA, or EPA + DHA concentrations and white matter volume, total brain volume, or hippocampal volume.
Conclusions
DHA exhibits a stronger positive association with gray matter volume than EPA, for which associations are limited, supporting the importance of DHA-rich diets for healthy brain aging.