Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Combination With Leucine and Vitamin D Boost Cognitive Function in Older Adults

by | Jul 17, 2017 | 2017, Brain Health, Cognitive Health, Fats and Oils - General, Vitamin D - Mental Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. A daily 3-month intervention with medium-chain fatty acids, leucine and vitamin D significantly improved by 10.6% the cognitive function scores of 13 participating nursing home residents compared to an 11% drop in the 12 participants taking long-chain triglycerides and vitamin D.

brain healthMedium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are naturally occurring fats most abundantly found in coconut oil and certain high-fat dairy products. Because of their capacity to activate the rapid production of ketones (a byproduct of fat metabolism delivered to the brain as an instant energy source), MCTs play a critical role in supporting brain function 1,2. Numerous studies have shown immediate enhancement of cognitive performance following the acute administration of MCTs in patients with type 1 diabetes 3, as well as those with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease 4. In a previous investigation, Japanese researchers demonstrated that combining MCTs with leucine (an essential branch-chained amino acid involved in protein synthesis and muscle growth) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3, associated with protective effects against cognitive decline 5 was effective in improving muscle strength and function in frail older adults 6. In a follow-up 2017 study, researchers examined the same combination of MCTs, leucine-rich amino acids, and vitamin D, this time exploring its potential applicability to older adults and cognitive decline.

A total of 38 elderly nursing home residents (mean age = 86.6 years) were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded, parallel-group trial and were allocated to one of three groups: the first group received 6 g of MCT, along with a supplement containing 1.2 g of leucine and 20 µg of vitamin D3 (MCT + LD); the second group received 6 g of long-chain triglycerides (LCT), along with the same leucine and vitamin D3-enriched supplement (LCT + LD); the third group received no supplementation (control). Supplements were taken daily for three months, and cognitive functioning was assessed at baseline and following the 3-month intervention, using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE, based on participant performance) and the Nishimura geriatric rating scale for mental status (NM, based on caregiver observations/responses).

At the end of three months, the following key results were obtained: (1) treatment with MCT + LD improved MMSE scores by 10.6% (16.6 to 18.4 points, p < 0.05) and NM scores by 30.6% (from 24.6 to 32.2 points, p < 0.001); (2) treatment with LCT + LD incurred an 11.2% drop in NM performance (from 31.2 to 27.7 points, p < 0.05); and (3) similarly, controls showed a decline with a 26.1% decrease in NM (from 27.2 to 20.1 points, p < 0.001).

Overall results indicate that daily administration of MCTs in combination with leucine and vitamin D3 is sufficient to produce meaningful improvement in the cognitive functioning of frail older adults. The study highlights that the boosting effect of fatty acids on brain function is unique to MCTs, and it is likely that such robust effects are due to the complementary use of vitamin D and leucine, rather than MCTs alone. While this combination of nutrient supplementation shows great promise in improving vascular and cognitive health in older adults, further studies should be carried out in clinical populations and those at relative risk for dementia

Source: Abe S, Ezaki O, Suzuki M. Medium-chain triglycerides in combination with leucine and vitamin D benefit cognition in frail elderly adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2017; 63: 133-140. DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.63.133.

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Posted July, 17, 2017.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program.

References:

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