Trial Outcomes & Findings for DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), an Omega 3 Fatty Acid, in Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease (NCT NCT00440050)

NCT ID: NCT00440050

Last Updated: 2014-09-25

Results Overview

ADAS-cog 11 = Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive sub-scale in points per year. This is a psychometric measure sensitive to change in mild to moderate AD. The range of this instrument is 0 to 70 with higher numbers indicating greater impairment.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE3

Target enrollment

402 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline, 6, 12, 18 months

Results posted on

2014-09-25

Participant Flow

Subjects were recruited at 51 sites in the United States between February and November 2007.

Out of 555 subjects screened, 402 met the study criteria and were randomized.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Placebo
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Overall Study
STARTED
164
238
Overall Study
COMPLETED
124
171
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
40
67

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), an Omega 3 Fatty Acid, in Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Placebo
n=164 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Total
n=402 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
76 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3 • n=99 Participants
76 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.8 • n=107 Participants
76 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.7 • n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
98 Participants
n=99 Participants
112 Participants
n=107 Participants
210 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
66 Participants
n=99 Participants
126 Participants
n=107 Participants
192 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
164 participants
n=99 Participants
238 participants
n=107 Participants
402 participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline, 6, 12, 18 months

ADAS-cog 11 = Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive sub-scale in points per year. This is a psychometric measure sensitive to change in mild to moderate AD. The range of this instrument is 0 to 70 with higher numbers indicating greater impairment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=164 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Rate of Change on the ADAS-Cog 11.
7.98 ADAS points per year
Standard Deviation 9.84
8.27 ADAS points per year
Standard Deviation 8.9

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 18 months

CDR-SOB = Clinical Dementia Rating, Sum of Boxes. This is a global rating of dementia severity based on the clinician's interpretation of the history and examination. The range of this instrument is 0 to 18 with higher numbers indicating greater impairment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=164 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Rate of Change on CDR-SOB
2.87 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.93
2.93 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.83

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 18 months

ADCS-ADL = Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living Score. This is a structured questionnaire about activities of daily living, administered to the subject's caregiver/study partner. The range of this instrument is 0 to 6 with lower numbers indicating greater impairment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=164 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
ADCS-ADL
10.43 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.74
11.51 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.23

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 18 months

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory quantifies behavioral changes in dementia, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, agitation, sleep change, appetite change, and others. This is a structured questionnaire administered to the subject's caregiver/study partner. The range of this instrument is 0 to 120 with higher numbers indicating greater impairment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Placebo
n=164 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 Participants
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
2.93 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.62
5.09 Units on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.08

Adverse Events

Placebo

Serious events: 50 serious events
Other events: 144 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

Serious events: 76 serious events
Other events: 214 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Placebo
n=164 participants at risk
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 participants at risk
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
General disorders
death
2.4%
4/164 • Number of events 4
5.1%
11/214 • Number of events 11
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolus
1.2%
2/164 • Number of events 2
3.7%
8/214 • Number of events 8
General disorders
other
26.8%
44/164 • Number of events 44
26.6%
57/214 • Number of events 57

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Placebo
n=164 participants at risk
Dosing of 2 grams of placebo administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
n=238 participants at risk
Dosing of 2 grams of DHA administered in a divided dose twice daily with food.
Gastrointestinal disorders
diarrhea
6.1%
10/164 • Number of events 10
7.6%
18/238 • Number of events 18
Renal and urinary disorders
urinary tract infection
7.3%
12/164 • Number of events 12
9.7%
23/238 • Number of events 23
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
fall
20.1%
33/164 • Number of events 33
17.6%
42/238 • Number of events 42
General disorders
dizziness
5.5%
9/164 • Number of events 9
5.0%
12/238 • Number of events 12
Psychiatric disorders
agitation
7.3%
12/164 • Number of events 12
10.1%
24/238 • Number of events 24
General disorders
other
53.7%
88/164 • Number of events 88
50.0%
119/238 • Number of events 119

Additional Information

Joseph Quinn, MD

Oregon Health and Sciences University/Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.

Phone: 503-494-6976

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place