[Omega-3 fatty acids and acetylcysteine diet supplementation effects on learning performance]

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health, are crucial for the brain, body development and also in prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

We used 60 male Wistar fats, weight 180 +/- 20 grams, divided into two study groups: normal control animals (M) and test animals (T) divided in groups I (N3-PUFA), II (ACC) and III (N3-PUFA and ACC). Administration of the substances was made for 36 weeks (nine months), after which the animals were evaluated and subsequently sacrificed for further biochemical analysis. As an evaluation method has been used multiple T maze labyrinth.

Group I recorded a time maze percentage decrease from -4.26% to -33.88%. In group II we recorded a decrease time maze percentage from -5.37% to -34.28%. During the experiment, group III recorded a decrease time maze percentage from -5.1% to -32.33% at the end of the experiment. The control group evolution for the maze recorded a decrease in time maze percentage, reaching 17-18% at the end of the experiment.

By improving the diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids increased exponentially cognitive performance compared with normal diet, low in these acids.