Effectiveness of Fish Roe, Snow Fungus, and Yeast Supplementation for Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Authors:
Yung-Kai Lin, Yung-Hsiang Lin, Chi-Fu Chiang, and Li Jingling

Journal:
Nutrients

Study Design:
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Participants:
64 healthy adults aged 20–65 years. Participants were divided into two groups: a formula-beverage group (n = 32) and a placebo group (n = 32).

Intervention:

• Formula-Beverage Group: A daily 30 g bottle of a beverage containing fish roe (3400 mg), yeast (90 mg), snow fungus (56 mg), and other components for 8 weeks.
• Placebo Group: A daily 30 g bottle containing citric acid and water for 8 weeks.

Outcome Measures:

1. Cognitive Assessments:
   • Match-to-sample test
   • Trail-making test (sections 1 and 2)
   • Processing-speed test
   • Mnemonic similarity test
   • Facial-expression-cuing task
2. Emotional and Quality of Life Assessments:
   • State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
   • Fatigue scale (PSS-14)
   • Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF)
3. Safety Measures:
   • Adverse event reporting

Summary:
This clinical trial investigated the efficacy of a formula beverage containing fish roe, snow fungus, and yeast on cognitive function and emotional well-being in adults. After 8 weeks of supplementation, significant improvements were observed in:

• Short-term memory and executive function, as measured by the match-to-sample and trail-making tests (p < 0.05).
• Attention to positive emotions (p = 0.046) and enhanced emotional perception (p = 0.032).
• Reduced anxiety levels (p = 0.045) and improved quality of life (p = 0.044).

The study concluded that this formula beverage is a promising option for preventing cognitive decline and improving emotional well-being in healthy adults. It was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.