Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Memory and Attention Enhancement in Adolescents via DHA-Enriched Fish Oil Combined with Galangal Extract
DOI: 10.23977/socmhm.2026.070103 | Downloads: 1 | Views: 87
Author(s)
Conner Lv 1, Donald Moore 1, Doris Dai 1
Affiliation(s)
1 Eternal Grace Pte. Ltd, Tuas, Singapore
Corresponding Author
Conner LvABSTRACT
This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial aimed to explore the effects of DHA-enriched fish oil alone or combined with galangal extract on memory and attention in adolescents. A total of 68 adolescents aged 12-18 years were recruited, with 66 completing the 90-day intervention. They were divided into four groups: high-dose combo group (HCG, 600 mg fish oil plus galangal extract daily), high-dose group (HG, 600 mg fish oil daily), low-dose group (LG, 300 mg fish oil daily), and control group (CG, placebo). Participants took the test product for 90 consecutive days, and their attention and memory levels were assessed using the sub-item memory scales and MQ task and the IQ test at baseline (D0), day 30 (D30), and day 90 (D90). Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that the combined intervention group exhibited significant improvements in all core memory subscale scores and MQ values. Specifically, at D30, the HCG showed marked increases in all memory subscale scores (P<0.01 or P<0.001), with further prominent enhancements at D90 (all P<0.001). The single-intervention groups (HG and LG) showed moderate improvements in partial memory subscale scores at D30 (P<0.05) and D90 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but these improvements were significantly weaker than those in the combined intervention group (all P<0.05 at D90).The control group showed no significant changes in any memory or cognitive outcomes (all P>0.05). No significant changes in IQ-related indicators were observed in the CG, LG, and HG (all P>0.05), while the HCG showed significant improvements in key IQ dimensions at D30 (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and D90 (all P<0.01). These findings support that DHA combined with galangal extract improves attention, memory, and decision-execution accuracy in adolescents, and further enhances key IQ-related cognitive functions contributing to cognitive health management. Over the 90-day period, the effects of DHA combined with galangal extract were significantly superior to those of the other three groups.
KEYWORDS
Omega-3, DHA, Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd, Memory, Attention, AdolescentsCITE THIS PAPER
Conner Lv, Donald Moore, Doris Dai. Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Memory and Attention Enhancement in Adolescents via DHA-Enriched Fish Oil Combined with Galangal Extract. Social Medicine and Health Management (2026). Vol. 7, No.1, 24-31. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/socmhm.2026.070103.
REFERENCES
[1] A P W S J W , B V A S , A J J P ,et al.Gender self-confidence, scholastic stress, life satisfaction, and perceived academic achievement for adolescent New Zealanders[J].Journal of Adolescence, 2021, 88:120-133. DOI:10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.02.009.
[2] Goldstein A ,Déry, Nicolas, Pilgrim M ,et al.Stress and binge drinking: A toxic combination for the teenage brain[J].Neuropsychologia, 2016:251-260.DOI:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.07.035.
[3] Rubio M , Hooijdonk K V , Luijten M ,et al.University students' (binge) drinking during COVID-19 lockdowns: An investigation of depression, social context, resilience, and changes in alcohol use[J].Social Science & Medicine, 2023, 326(c):115925.DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115925.
[4] Sterlemann, V., Rammes, G., Wolf, M., Liebl, C., Ganea, K., Müller, M. B., & Schmidt, M. V. (2010). Chronic social stress during adolescence induces cognitive impairment in aged mice. Hippocampus, 20(4), 540–549. https://doi.org/10.1002/hipo.20655.
[5] Anett N , Oddy W H , Siobhan H ,et al.The Relationship between Nutrition in Infancy and Cognitive Performance during Adolescence[J].Frontiers in Nutrition, 2015, 2:2.DOI:10.3389/fnut.2015.00002.
[6] Wattanathorn, J.; Thukham-Mee, W. Omega-3-Rich Tuna Oil Derived from By-Products of the Canned Tuna Industry Enhances Memory in an Ovariectomized Rat Model of Menopause. Antioxidants 2024, 13, 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13060637
[7] A Z C , A Y W , A Y H ,et al.Clinical effectiveness of fish oil on arterial stiffness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials[J].Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2021, 31( 5):1339-1348.DOI:10.1016/j.numecd.2020.12.033.
[8] Kilic F S , Kaygisiz B , Aydin S ,et al.The effects and mechanisms of the action of galangin on spatial memory in rats[J].Bratislava Medical Journal, 2019, 120(12):881-886.DOI:10.4149/BLL_2019_148.
[9] Singh J C H , Alagarsamy V , Diwan P V ,et al.Neuroprotective effect of Alpinia galanga (L.) fractions on Aβ(25-35) induced amnesia in mice.[J].Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011, 138(1):85-91.DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.048.
[10] Kaygisiz B, Aydin S, Yildirim E, Musmul A, Erol K, Kilic FS. The effects of galangin in prepulse inhibition test and experimental schizophrenia models. Acta Neuropsychiatrica. 2022;34(1):37-46. doi:10.1017/neu.2021.33
[11] Larochette, A. C., & Harrison, A. G. (2012). Word Memory Test Performance in Canadian Adolescents With Learning Disabilities: A Preliminary Study. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 1(1), 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622965.2012.665777
[12] Phelps L A .Discriminative validity of the WRAML with ADHD and LD children[J].Psychology in the Schools, 1996, 33(1):5-12.DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1520-6807(199601)33:13.0.CO;2-S.
[13] Ashall V , Morton D , Clutton E .A Declaration of Helsinki for animals[J].Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2023(4):50.DOI:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.03.005.
[14] Luo, L. L., Chen, X., Chai, Y., Li, J. H., Zhang, M., & Zhang, J. N. (2013). A distinct pattern of memory and attention deficiency in patients with depression. Chinese medical journal, 126(6), 1144–1149.
[15] Larochette, A. C., & Harrison, A. G. (2012). Word Memory Test Performance in Canadian Adolescents With Learning Disabilities: A Preliminary Study. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 1(1), 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622965.2012.665777.
[16] Deborah, Christie. Introduction to IQ testing[J].Psychiatry, 2005.DOI:10.1383/psyt.4.6.22.66351..
[17] Dwivedi Y .Involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in late-life depression.[J].American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2013, 21(5):433-449.DOI:10.1016/j.jagp.2012.10.026.
[18] Choi M J, Park J S, Park J E, et al. Galangin Suppresses Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression in Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid-Stimulated Microglial Cells[J]. Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 2017, 25(6):641-647.DOI:10.4062/biomolther.2017.173.
| Downloads: | 3191 |
|---|---|
| Visits: | 210696 |
Sponsors, Associates, and Links
-
Information Systems and Economics
-
Accounting, Auditing and Finance
-
Industrial Engineering and Innovation Management
-
Tourism Management and Technology Economy
-
Journal of Computational and Financial Econometrics
-
Financial Engineering and Risk Management
-
Accounting and Corporate Management
-
Social Security and Administration Management
-
Population, Resources & Environmental Economics
-
Statistics & Quantitative Economics
-
Agricultural & Forestry Economics and Management
-
Land Resource Management
-
Information, Library and Archival Science
-
Journal of Human Resource Development
-
Manufacturing and Service Operations Management
-
Operational Research and Cybernetics

Download as PDF