Arachidonic Acid Supplementation Decreases P300 Latency and Increases P300 Amplitude of Event-Related Potentials in Healthy Elderly Men

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of arachidonic acid (ARA) on age-related event-related potential (ERP) changes in 25 healthy elderly men. This study was performed using a double-blind crossover design. The subjects were administered 600 mg/day of ARA-enriched triglyceride (SUNTGA40S; containing 240 mg ARA) in capsules or the same amount of olive oil in capsules as an inactive placebo for 1 month. ERPs were measured before capsule administration and after 1 month of administration, and P300 latency and amplitude were also measured. In subjects administered 240 mg/day ARA, P300 latency was significantly shorter, and P300 amplitude was significantly higher than in those administered olive oil capsules, and they exhibited a significant increase in ARA content in serum phospholipids. These findings suggest that supplementation of ARA can improve cognitive function in healthy elderly men.