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. Issue 5 (8th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Nicholas; McLaverty, Alison; Nelson, Barnaby; Markulev, Connie; Schäfer, Miriam R.; Berger, Maximus; Mossaheb, Nilufar; Schlögelhofer, Monika; Smesny, Stefan; Hickie, Ian B.; Berger, Gregor E.; Chen, Eric Y. H.; de Haan, Lieuwe; Nieman, Dorien H.; Nordentoft, Merete; Riecher-Rössler, Anita; Verma, Swapna; Street, Rebekah; Thompson, Andrew; Yuen, Hok Pan; Hester, Robert; Yung, Alison Ruth; McGorry, Patrick D.; Allott, Kelly; Amminger, G. Paul
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 8:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-08
• Subjects: Cognition -- clinical high risk -- early intervention -- randomised controlled trial -- psychotic disorders; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.572
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

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 ( ηp 2 = 0.09) and BACS composite score ( ηp 2 = 0.21). After repeating the analyses without individuals who transitioned, motor speed was no longer significant ( ηp 2 = 0.02), but the composite score remained significant ( ηp 2 = 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.