Perilla seed oil improves bone health by inhibiting bone resorption in healthy Japanese adults: A 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Accumulating evidence suggests the beneficial effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on bone mineral density (BMD). However, the effects of perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linoleic acid (LNA), on human bone have not yet been elucidated. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of long-term PO intake on bone health in Japanese adults. After screening for eligibility, 52 participants (mean age 54.2 ± 6.4 years) were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 25) and PO (n = 27) groups, which received 7.0 ml of olive oil and PO daily, respectively. At baseline and 12-month, quantitative ultrasound of the right calcaneus was measured with an ultrasound bone densitometer and percentage of the Young Adult Mean (%YAM) was calculated. Serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were evaluated. In addition, PUFA levels in the erythrocyte plasma membrane (RBC-PM), serum biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) were evaluated. Compared with the placebo group, %YAM levels increased and serum TRACP-5b levels decreased significantly in the PO group at 12-month, while serum BALP levels remained unchanged. Moreover, RBC-PM LNA levels and BAP/d-ROM ratios increased significantly in the PO compared with the placebo group. These results suggest that long-term PO intake may improve age-related BMD decline by suppressing bone resorption and increasing LNA levels.

Perilla frutescens seed oil combined with Anredera cordifolia leaf powder attenuates age-related cognitive decline by reducing serum triglyceride and glucose levels in healthy elderly Japanese individuals: a possible supplement for brain health.

We have shown that Anredera cordifolia extract improves learning and memory in a senescence-accelerated mouse model, and that α-linolenic acid (ALA)-rich Perilla frutescens seed oil (PO) improves brain function in healthy Japanese adults and elderly individuals. Herein, we present a 12-month, randomised, double-blind, parallel-armed intervention trial examining the effects of PO supplementation alone or in combination with A. cordifolia leaf powder on brain function in healthy elderly Japanese individuals. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the PO group received 1.47 mL PO (0.88 g ALA) daily via soft gelatine capsules, and the POAC group received 1.47 mL PO and 1.12 g A. cordifolia leaf powder (1.46 mg vitexin and 1.12 mg adenosine) daily. After 12 months of intervention, the POAC group showed generally higher cognitive index scores than the PO group. The beneficial effects of combined supplementation on cognitive function were associated with increased ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid levels in red blood cell plasma membranes, increased serum biological antioxidant potential, and decreased serum triglyceride, glucose, and N-(epsilon)-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end-product and biochemical marker of oxidative stress levels. The effects of combined supplementation on cognitive function also showed a significant negative correlation with serum CML levels after 12 months of intervention. Our findings suggest that combined long-term supplementation with PO and A. cordifolia more effectively ameliorates age-related cognitive decline than PO alone. These findings may serve as a basis for the development of new supplements for brain health. Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000040863.

Perilla seed oil in combination with nobiletin-rich ponkan powder enhances cognitive function in healthy elderly Japanese individuals: a possible supplement for brain health in the elderly.

Perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed oil (PO), rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), can improve cognitive function in healthy elderly Japanese people. Here, supplements containing either PO alone or PO with nobiletin-rich air-dried immature ponkan powder were examined for their effects on cognitive function in 49 healthy elderly Japanese individuals. Patients were enrolled in a 12-month randomized, double-blind, parallel-armed study. Randomized participants in the PO group received soft gelatin capsules containing 1.47 mL (0.88 g of ALA) of PO daily, and those in the PO + ponkan powder (POPP) group received soft gelatin capsules containing both 1.47 mL of PO and 1.12 g ponkan powder (2.91 mg of nobiletin) daily. At the end of intervention, the POPP group showed significantly higher cognitive index scores than the PO group. The pro-cognitive effects of POPP treatment were accompanied by increases in ALA and docosahexaenoic acid levels in red blood cell plasma membranes, serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels, and biological antioxidant potential. We demonstrate that 12-month intervention with POPP enhances serum BDNF and antioxidant potential, and may improve age-related cognitive impairment in healthy elderly people by increasing red blood cell ω-3 fatty acid levels. Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000040863.

Intake of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Enriched Milk Beverage Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Decreases Serum Bone Resorption Marker Levels.

The pathogenic mechanism of dementia is still unknown, and the fundamental treatment remains to be established. Thus, there is growing interest in preventing dementia through diet. One of the functional ingredients attracting attention is docosahexaenoic acid. We conducted a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy elderly Japanese individuals with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 28 or higher at baseline using a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched milk beverage containing 297 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 137 mg eicosapentaenoic acid. Consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched milk beverage increased the fatty acid levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in erythrocyte membranes, which was the primary outcome of this study. Moreover, intake of this beverage prevented age-related cognitive decline and decreased serum bone resorption marker levels. Our data demonstrate that, even at a low dose, long-term daily intake of docosahexaenoic acid prevents dementia and may show beneficial effect on bone health.

Perilla Seed Oil Enhances Cognitive Function and Mental Health in Healthy Elderly Japanese Individuals by Enhancing the Biological Antioxidant Potential.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in age-associated cognitive decline. We recently reported that dietary intake of perilla seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3, ω-3), helps in maintaining good mental health in adults. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of dietary PO intake on cognitive functions and mental health in healthy, elderly Japanese individuals. Seventy-five healthy volunteers aged 64-84 years were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a PO-administered group. At baseline and at 12 months of intervention, cognitive function, mental health condition, fatty acid profile of the red blood cell plasma membranes (RBC-PM), and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. Results showed that serum biological antioxidant potential and LNA levels in the RBC-PM at 12 months after the trial were significantly higher in the PO group compared to the control group. Further, both the cognitive function measures, as evaluated by the Frontal Assessment Battery test and the apathy scores, tended to be improved after 12 months in the PO group. Our results demonstrate that dietary PO intake enhances the antioxidant potential and prevents the age-related cognitive and mental decline in healthy elderly individuals by enhancing the blood LNA levels.

Influence of Ultra-High Hydrostatic Pressurizing Brown Rice on Cognitive Functions and Mental Health of Elderly Japanese Individuals: A 2-Year Randomized and Controlled Trial.

Brown rice contains many ingredients that might protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. However, brown rice is very hard, difficult to cook, and is poorly digested; thus, it is difficult to eat long-term. To solve these problems, ultra-high hydrostatic pressurizing brown rice (UHHPBR) was prepared. We investigated the effects of dietary UHHPBR administration for 24 mo on cognitive function and mental health in the elderly. Healthy elderly participants (n=52) were randomized into UHHPBR and polished white rice (WR) groups. The UHHPBR group consumed 100 g of UHHPBR per day for 24 mo and the WR group consumed white rice. At baseline, and after 12 and 24 mo, cognitive functions were assessed using the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Cognitive Assessment for Dementia, iPad version (CADi). Mental health condition was also assessed using the Apathy Scale and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. From baseline to month 24, the mean change in the FAB-sub item 1 scores was higher in the UHHPBR group compared to the WR group. Furthermore, apathy scores decreased, as well as the time required to answer all questions of the CADi, and plasma epinephrine levels increased. These results indicate that a 2-y oral consumption of UHHPBR increases information processing speed (as a measure of cognitive function) and improves apathy in the elderly, suggesting a protective effect of UHHPBR administration against age-related decline in brain cognition and motivation.