Two trials examined whether omega-3 fatty acid DHA may prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease have produced mixed results.

The studies were carried out because of “a long history of epidemiological studies related to fish consumption to cognitive function,” said Bill Thies, medical and scientific director of the Alzheimer’s Association. Fish is rich in DHA, but the research was presented Sunday at the association’s annual meeting in Vienna, Austria, used DHA derived from algae.

Within 18 months of study of people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease “showed no benefit of treatment in the study population as a whole and does not support the use of DHA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Dr. Joseph Quinn, an associate professor of neurology at Oregon Health and Science University.

However, Quinn said it was “promoting an analysis of a subpopulation of the larger study, which shows a slower rate of decline in mental function for those who do not have the version of the APOE e4 gene. That version is known to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Between 70 percent and 80 percent of people who have genes version, Quinn estimated.

However, “we are unwilling to conclude that e4 negative individuals should be the Department of Humanitarian Affairs,” said Quinn. “We do not know of a mechanism which represents a benefit to e4 negative people and we do not know if our exploratory analysis would be confirmed in future trials.”

Their study, funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, involved 402 people, average age of 76, with a daily intake of less than 200 milligrams a day. Some took 2,000 mg, while other DHA supplements had a placebo. All were subjected to tests of mental function during the 18 months trial. The slower rate of decline in e4-deficient participants did not reach statistical significance.

The second study was a trial of six months of 900 milligrams of DHA per day for 485 people, average age 70 years, had a mild Alzheimer’s disease, but there were complaints about memory loss. The supplement that made fewer errors in a memory test.

Trial that was funded by Martek Biosciences Corporation, which markets the DHA used in both studies.

The results indicate that DHA supplements are appropriate for “people with mild memory complaints, which applies to a large percentage of the population in this age,” said Karin Yurko-Mauro, associate director of clinical research at Martek Biosciences . “We’re not talking about a stage of the disease here.”

The company is “exploring the possibility of more tests,” but is still evaluating the data from the study, Yurko-Mauro said.

“The results are certainly interesting,” said Thies. “There was some improvement in memory. You can then enter into a debate about what the world would be of real benefit to the improvement in memory.”

What is needed, Thies said, is an important trial for people with Alzheimer’s disease, but some memory problems. “DHA is a great candidate for this trial because it is a food supplement that is available today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thies said, “It’s too early” to make a recommendation on the use of DHA supplements to prevent loss of mental function. “You want to see more information on ordinary people before making a recommendation,” said Thies. “In high doses, DHA side effects

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