Improving Cognitive Function with Nutritional Supplements in Aging: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Clinical Studies Investigating the Effects of Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, and Other Dietary Supplements.

Cognitive impairment and dementia are burgeoning public health concerns, especially given the increasing longevity of the global population. These conditions not only affect the quality of life of individuals and their families, but also pose significant economic burdens on healthcare systems. In this context, our comprehensive narrative review critically examines the role of nutritional supplements in mitigating cognitive decline. Amidst growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive enhancement, this review delves into the efficacy of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other dietary supplements. Through a systematic evaluation of randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and meta-analysis, this review focuses on outcomes such as memory enhancement, attention improvement, executive function support, and neuroprotection. The findings suggest a complex interplay between nutritional supplementation and cognitive health, with some supplements showing promising results and others displaying limited or context-dependent effectiveness. The review highlights the importance of dosage, bioavailability, and individual differences in response to supplementation. Additionally, it addresses safety concerns and potential interactions with conventional treatments. By providing a clear overview of current scientific knowledge, this review aims to guide healthcare professionals and researchers in making informed decisions about the use of nutritional supplements for cognitive health.

The Effectiveness of Supplementation with Key Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants and Specific Nutritional Supplements in COPD-A Review.

Currently, an increasing amount of evidence supports the notion that vitamins C, D and E, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids may protect against the progression of chronic respiratory diseases. Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) primarily affects the lung, it is often accompanied by extrapulmonary manifestations such as weight loss and malnutrition, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and an excess of harmful oxidants, which can lead to a decline in quality of life and possible death. Recently, the role of various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in mitigating the effects of environmental pollution and smoking has received significant attention. Therefore, this review evaluates the most relevant and up-to-date evidence on this topic. We conducted a literature review between 15 May 2018 and 15 May 2023, using the electronic database PubMed. Our search keywords included COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, FEV1, supplementation: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B, omega-3, minerals, antioxidants, specific nutrient supplementations, clinical trials, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We focused on studies that measured the serum levels of vitamins, as these are a more objective measure than patient self-reports. Our findings suggest that the role of appropriate dietary supplements needs to be reconsidered for individuals who are predisposed to or at risk of these conditions.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation on quality of life, nutritional status, inflammatory parameters, lipid profile, exercise tolerance and inhaled medications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have an anti-inflammatory effect, beneficial for allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood inflammatory parameters [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)]. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to monitor omega-3 supplementation in patients with severe COPD and assess its association with quality of life, nutritional status, inflammatory parameters, lipid profile, comorbidities, exercise tolerance and inhaled medications. METHODS: Our questionnaire on dietary supplement habits and our validated self-completion questionnaires were filled in by 400 patients with COPD at the National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Hungary, mean age 67 [61-73] years; forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (ref%): 46 [34-58]; 47.5% male, 52.5% female. We used the disease-specific COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire to measure quality of life. RESULTS: More than half of the study participants (61%) did not consume fish or oilseeds at all. Nineteen patients (4.75%) took omega-3 supplementation regularly, mainly on medical advice (0.5 g/day). We observed significantly lower serum CRP levels [6.0 (1-7.3) vs. 9.7 (7.4-14.4); P=0.044], more favourable lipid profile [triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol] with higher mean body mass index (BMI) [28.1 (22.0-35.3) vs. 24.7 (24.5-30.1); P=0.118], better quality of life {CAT: 25 [21-30.5] vs. 26 [20-31]; P=0.519}, lower inhaled short-acting bronchodilators use [short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs): 6 (31.58) vs. 209 (54.86); P=0.047], lower number of exacerbations in the previous half year [0 (0-1) vs. 1 (0-2); P=0.023], and higher 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) {300 [177-387] vs. 251 [150-345]; P=0.120} in the group with omega-3 supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: PUFAs are anti-inflammatory and affect the immune system. Our study shows that omega-3 intake of COPD patients is insufficient, and there is an urgent need to develop new anti-inflammatory strategies because only one drug (such as corticosteroids) cannot ease the chronically progressive inflammatory process of COPD.

Clinical value of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Az ómega-3 zsírsavak pótlásának klinikai értéke krónikus obstruktív tüdobetegségben.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Civilizált világunk, miközben látszólag túltáplált, ómega-3-hiányban szenved. A hosszú szénláncú, többszörösen telítetlen zsírsavak számos anyagcsere-megbetegedés (például elhízás, 2-es típusú diabetes mellitus, szív- és érrendszeri megbetegedések) kialakulásában játszhatnak szerepet. A halolajban lévo zsírsavak erosítik az immunrendszert, csökkentik a koleszterin- és trigliceridszintet, csökkentik a gyulladást. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk célja a többszörösen telítetlen zsírsavak bevitelének monitorozása, valamint a tüdofunkcióval és az életminoséggel való kapcsolatuk értékelése krónikus obstruktív tüdobetegségben (COPD). Módszer: Kérdoívünket az Országos Korányi Pulmonológiai Intézet Légzésrehabilitációs Osztályán, 2019. március 1. és 2020. március 1. között 40 év feletti COPD-s betegek körében vettük fel. Az életminoség mérésére a betegségspecifikus Szent György Légzési Kérdoívet alkalmaztuk, a légzésfunkciós és antropometriai adatokat az egészségügyi elektronikus nyilvántartási rendszerbol nyertük ki. Eredmények: A betegek medián életkora 66 (IQR 60-73) év volt, a nemek közötti megoszlást tekintve 47,5% férfi és 52,5% no. A medián BMI 26,0 (IQR 21,7-30,6) kg/m2, a FEV1 (ref%) 48,0 (IQR 38,1-55,3) volt. Az ómega-3 zsírsavakat a betegek 4,7%-a (n = 19) szedi rendszeresen, elsosorban kezeloorvosa javaslatára, a javasolt napi dózisban (0,25-0,50 g/nap). Esetükben jobb életminoséget tapasztaltunk (65,8 [52,4-79,7] vs. 72,2 [56,2-88,6]; p = 0,044), kevesebb társbetegséggel rendelkeztek (hypertonia: 10 [52,6%] vs. 275 [72,1%]; p = 0,066), kevesebb gyógyszert használtak (gyors hatású béta-2-agonista: 5 [25,3%] vs. 197 [51,7%]; p = 0,031), alacsonyabb volt a fellángolások száma (1 [1-3] vs. 2 [1-4]; p = 0,029), és nagyobb volt a 6 perces sétatávolság (300 [177-387] vs. 251 [150-345]; p = 0,121). Következtetés: Eredményeink arra utalnak, hogy a többszörösen telítetlen zsírsavak bevitele összefüggésben lehet az életminoséggel COPD-s betegekben. Vizsgálatunk szerint a betegek ómega-3-bevitele nem kielégíto - eredményeink alapján szeretnénk felhívni a figyelmet e zsírok fogyasztásának fontosságára. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(1): 23-30. INTRODUCTION: Our civilized world, while seems to be overweight, suffers from omega-3 deficiency. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can play a role in the development of many metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease). Fatty acids in fish oil strengthen the immune system, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, have been proven to be beneficial, reduce inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to monitor the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and to evaluate their relationship with lung function and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD: Our questionnaire was completed at the Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation of the National Koranyi Institute for Pulmonology between March 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020 among COPD patients over 40 years of age. We used the disease-specific St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire to measure the quality of life; the respiratory function and anthropometric data were extracted from the electronic health record system. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 66 (IQR 60-73) years, with a gender division of 47.5% male and 52.5% female. The median BMI was 26.0 (IQR 21.7-30.6) kg/m2, and the median FEV1 (%pred) was 48.0 (IQR 38.1-55.3). In the form of a dietary supplement, 4.7% (n = 19) of patients take omega-3 fatty acids regularly, mainly on the recommendation of their doctor, at the recommended daily dose (0.25-0.50 g/day). Among them, we detected a better quality of life (65.8 [52.4-79.7] vs. 72.2 [56.2-88.6]; p = 0.044), had fewer comorbidities (hypertension: 10 [52.6%] vs. 275 [72.1%]; p = 0.066), consumed fewer drugs (short-acting bronchodilators: 5 [25.3%] vs. 197 [51.7%]; p = 0.031), had fewer exacerbations (1 [1-3] vs. 2 [1-4]; p = 0.029), and higher six-minute walking distance (300 [177-387] vs. 251 [150-345]; p = 0.121). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids may be related to the quality of life in COPD patients. According to our study, the intake of omega-3 in patients is unsatisfactory, and based on our results, we would like to draw attention to the importance of consuming these fats. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(1): 23-30.