Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 supplementation on brain docosahexaenoic acid, brain derived neurotrophic factor, and cognitive performance in the second-generation Wistar rats

In vegetarian population, vitamin B-12 deficiency coexists with suboptimal levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies indicate a need for supplementation/fortification of vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of brain disorders. We have described the effects of vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on brain development in F-1 generation animals. The current study investigates the effects of vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on brain function and cognition. Pregnant Wistar rats were assigned the following groups: control, vitamin B-12 deficient (BD), vitamin B-12 deficient+omega-3 fatty acid (BDO), vitamin B-12 supplemented (BS), vitamin B-12 supplemented+omega-3 fatty acid (BSO). The same diets were continued for two generations. BDO group showed higher (P < 0.05) levels of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in the cortex and hippocampus as compared with the BD group. The cognitive performance was also normalized in this group. BS showed comparable levels of DHA, BDNF (protein and mRNA), and CREB mRNA (cAMP response element-binding protein) to that of control group while Tropomyosin receptor kinase mRNA levels were higher. The combined vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation further enhanced the levels of DHA (P < 0.05) and BDNF (P < 0.05) in the hippocampus and CREB mRNA (P < 0.01) in the cortex as compared with BS group. The cognitive performance of these animals was higher (P < 0.05) as compared with BS group. Our data indicates the beneficial effects of vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation across two generations on brain development and function. (c) 2015 BioFactors, 41(4):261-272, 2015.