Structured Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Improvement of Cognitive Function during Aging

Abstract

Although the human lifespan has increased in the past century owing to advances in medicine and lifestyle, the human healthspan has not kept up the same pace, especially in brain aging. Consequently, the role of preventive health interventions has become a crucial strategy, in particular, the identification of nutritional compounds that could alleviate the deleterious effects of aging. Among nutrients to cope with aging in special cognitive decline, the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LCPUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have emerged as very promising ones. Due to their neuroinflammatory resolving effects, an increased status of DHA and EPA in the elderly has been linked to better cognitive function and a lower risk of dementia. However, the results from clinical studies do not show consistent evidence and intake recommendations for old adults are lacking. Recently, supplementation with structured forms of EPA and DHA, which can be derived natural forms or targeted structures, have proven enhanced bioavailability and powerful benefits. This review summarizes present and future perspectives of new structures of ω-3 LCPUFAs and the role of "omic" technologies combined with the use of high-throughput in vivo models to shed light on the relationships and underlying mechanisms between ω-3 LCPUFAs and healthy aging.

Keywords: DHA; EPA; cell senescence; cognitive function; omega-3 PUFAs; omic technologies; structured lipids.

Figure 1

A triglyceride of DHA digested by lipases. The sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the glycerol backbone are cleaved while the fatty acids of the sn-2 position remains. Image courtesy of Brudylab^®.

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the hypothetic mechanisms through which ω-3 LCPUFAs reduce neuroinflammation and improve cognitive function by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress in brain cells. Thick arrows express the enhanced effect of the structured forms of DHA and EPA (TFs, transcription factors).

Figure 3

Advantages of integrating the use of omic technologies and small high-throughput in vivo models on the study of the efficacy of new structures of ω-3 LCPUFAs on cognitive function.