Martek Biosciences (Nasdaq: MATK) announced that its vegetarian source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 derived from microalgae is the only DHA source selected for an upcoming multi-million dollar National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study on the effects of DHA in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, the study will determine whether DHA supplementation slows the progression of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
“DHA has great promise as a treatment strategy for Alzheimer’s disease, with favorable effects on the same biochemical ‘targets’ which are being pursued with experimental drugs,” said Joseph Quinn, M.D., lead investigator of the study. “One big advantage of DHA is that its biology is well known, so that the DHA approach should be less risky than many other experimental drugs under study.”
The study, “Effects of DHA in Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease,” is a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 400 subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The patients will be treated for 18 months, during which patients will be given either two grams per day of DHA orally, or placebo. The patients will be able to take their other Alzheimer’s medications while in the study.
DHA omega-3 is a long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat in the brain and accounts for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. Numerous studies confirm that all age groups, from infants to adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3. Additionally, low levels of DHA have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Martek’s DHA omega-3 products are marketed to consumers and included as an ingredient in foods under the brand life’sDHA(TM). Life’sDHA(TM) is a DHA omega-3 from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Isolated from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life’sDHA(TM) is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oil sources of omega-3’s. Microalgae are the only vegetarian source of DHA omega-3.
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