Outcomes of Perilla Seed Oil as an Additional Neuroprotective Therapy in Patients with Mild to Moderate Dementia: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Dementia is a common medical disorder in the elderly. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the process of cognitive decline in dementia. Perilla seed oil demonstrates its neuroprotective effects via anti-oxidative mechanisms against dementia. We investigate neuroprotective effects of perilla seed oil as an additional treatment in patients with mild to moderate dementia. Method: A double-blind, randomized-control trial (perilla seed oil versus placebo) in patients with mild to moderate dementia was conducted. Perilla seed oil or placebo was added on with standard treatment for six months. Cognitive function was compared at nine months after enrollment. Result: 182 patients, with 94 in the experimental group and 88 in the placebo group, were able to complete the study. Cognitive function is not significantly different compared between groups. However, the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in the experimental group. Perilla seed oil had no adverse effect to kidney, liver, blood components or glucose metabolism. Conclusion: Perilla seed oil as additional neuroprotective therapy in patients with mild to moderate dementia does not improve cognitive function. Perilla seed oil significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. A clinical trial is needed to prove the benefit of cholesterol-lowering effects with perilla seed oil in human.