Why B vitamins only help some people avoid memory loss
Beneficial Interactions Between B Vitamins and Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Brain Atrophy and of Cognitive Decline in Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
B vitamins had zero cognitive benefit for participants with low omega-3 levels.
Most public health advice promotes B vitamins for brain health regardless of diet. This study shows they’re ineffective without a specific dietary foundation.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 70 and worried about memory loss, get your omega-3 levels tested—then consider B vitamins only if your DHA is in the upper normal range.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
B vitamins had zero cognitive benefit for participants with low omega-3 levels.
Most public health advice promotes B vitamins for brain health regardless of diet. This study shows they’re ineffective without a specific dietary foundation.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 70 and worried about memory loss, get your omega-3 levels tested—then consider B vitamins only if your DHA is in the upper normal range.
Publication
Journal
The FASEB Journal
Year
2016
Authors
David Smith, H. Refsum, A. Oulhaj, C. Jager, F. Jernerén
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking B vitamins might help protect your brain from shrinking, but only if you already have enough omega-3s in your body—like from fish or supplements.
If you're an older adult with mild memory problems, having more DHA (a type of omega-3 found in fish) in your blood might make B vitamins work better to help your brain, and DHA seems to help more than another omega-3 called EPA.
Some scientists think that taking B vitamins and omega-3s together might help slow memory loss in people with early memory problems, because B vitamins help turn one type of fat in the brain into another that’s full of omega-3s and helps brain cells communicate better.
For older people with early memory problems, taking B vitamins for two years might help slow memory loss and delay Alzheimer’s — but only if their blood already has high levels of omega-3 fats. In that group, fewer people on B vitamins got worse compared to those on a placebo.
Taking B vitamins won't help your memory or thinking if you don't already have enough omega-3s in your body — it's like trying to start a car with no gas, even if you turn the key.