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Alzheimer's Research & Therapy
Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

The medical food Souvenaid affects brain phospholipid metabolism in mild Alzheimer’s disease: results from a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Anne Rijpma, Marinette van der Graaf, Marieke M. Lansbergen, Olga Meulenbroek, Aysun Cetinyurek-Yavuz, John W. Sijben, Arend Heerschap, Marcel G. M. Olde Rikkert

Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Synaptic dysfunction contributes to cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease and may be countered by increased intake of nutrients that target brain phospholipid metabolism. In this study, we explored whether the medical food Souvenaid affects brain phospholipid metabolism in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods

Thirty-four drug-naive patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (Mini Mental State Examination score ≥20) were enrolled in this exploratory, double-blind, randomized controlled study. Before and after 4-week intervention with Souvenaid or an isocaloric control product, phosphorus and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed to assess surrogate measures of phospholipid synthesis and breakdown (phosphomonoesters [PME] and phosphodiesters [PDEs]), neural integrity (N-acetyl aspartate), gliosis (myo-inositol), and choline metabolism (choline-containing compounds [tCho]). The main outcome parameters were PME and PDE signal intensities and the PME/PDE ratio.

Results

MRS data from 33 patients (60–86 years old; 42% males; Souvenaid arm n = 16; control arm n = 17) were analyzed. PME/PDE and tCho were higher after 4 weeks of Souvenaid compared with control (PME/PDE least squares [LS] mean difference [95% CI] 0.18 [0.06–0.30], p = 0.005; tCho LS mean difference [95% CI] 0.01 [0.00–0.02], p = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in the other MRS outcome parameters.

Conclusions

MRS reveals that Souvenaid affects brain phospholipid metabolism in mild Alzheimer’s disease, in line with findings in preclinical studies.

Trial registration

Netherlands Trial Register, NTR3346. Registered on 13 March 2012.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The medical food Souvenaid affects brain phospholipid metabolism in mild Alzheimer’s disease: results from a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Anne Rijpma
Marinette van der Graaf
Marieke M. Lansbergen
Olga Meulenbroek
Aysun Cetinyurek-Yavuz
John W. Sijben
Arend Heerschap
Marcel G. M. Olde Rikkert
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1758-9193
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-017-0286-2

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