Evidence mapPaperPMID 38468309Full record

SynthesisBMC medicine2024

The influence of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognitive function in individuals without dementia: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

Seung Wan Suh, Eunji Lim, Suh-Yuhn Burm, Hyungji Lee, Jong Bin Bae, Ji Won Han, Ki Woong Kim

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
10.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.

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  13. Dietary n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids From Fish Are Associated With Better Healthy Aging Indicators: Results of the DIAPELH Study.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Seung Wan Suh *Seoul Heal Mental Health Clinic, Seoul, South Korea.
Eunji Lim *Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, South Korea.
Suh-Yuhn BurmDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.
Hyungji LeeDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.
Jong Bin BaeDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.
Ji Won HanDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.
Ki Woong KimDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea. kwkimmd@snu.ac.kr.
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital · KRDr Youth Clinic · KRGyeongsang National University · KRSeoul National University · KR

Funding

Korea Dementia Research Project through the Korea Dementia Research Center (KDRC) HU20C0015Korean Health Technology Research and Development Project A092077
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been suggested as a cognitive enhancing agent, though their effect is doubtful. We aimed to examine the effect of n-3 PUFA on the cognitive function of middle-aged or older adults without dementia.

methodsWe reviewed randomized controlled trials of individuals aged 40 years or older. We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases. We used the restricted cubic splines model for non-linear dose-response meta-analysis in terms of the standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals.

resultsThe current meta-analysis on 24 studies (n 9660; follow-up 3 to 36 months) found that the beneficial effect on executive function demonstrates an upward trend within the initial 12 months of intervention. This effect is prominently observed with a daily intake surpassing 500 mg of n-3 PUFA and up to 420 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Furthermore, these trends exhibit heightened significance in regions where the levels of blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + EPA are not very low.

conclusionsSupplementation of n-3 PUFA may confer potential benefits to executive function among the middle-aged and elderly demographic, particularly in individuals whose dietary DHA + EPA level is not substantially diminished.

Indexed as

CognitionFatty Acids, Omega-3AdultAgedDementiaDietary SupplementsDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicFatty Acids, Omega-3Cognitive functionDose–response meta-analysisMild cognitive impairmentN-3 PUFAOmega-3Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Identifiers

PMID38468309
PMCPMC10929146
OpenAlexW4392711503

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.