Sesame oil cake extract, a supplement which is rich in the antioxidant compound phenolic lignans was linked in the first clinical study of its kind to benefits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
 
Mild cognitive impairment, which mostly involves some memory impairment, is considered to be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, and affects approximately 10-20% of people who are over the age of 65. Research has associated a diet rich in antioxidants and healthy fats with a reduced risk in developing Alzheimer’s disease, and a number of key biomarkers, such as blood concentrations of amyloid-beta, may serve as predictive factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s.
 
“Sesame seeds are an important source of sesame oil in several countries,” the authors of the study said. “Sesame seeds contain phenolic lignans, which exhibits antioxidant actions in vitro and in vivo, regulate hyper-unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, detoxify the liver, and inhibit the absorption of cholesterol. After roasting sesame seeds at an appropriate temperature and extracting the oil by pressing, sesame oil cakes (SOCs) are obtained as a by-product. The major active ingredient in SOC is sesaminol glucoside. Additionally, lignans including sesamin, sesamolin, and sesaminol from the decomposition of sesame fiber are present.”
 
In the study, a total of 70 subjects with MCI aged 60 years or older were recruited to receive a 1.5 gram daily dose of SOC extract or a placebo for 12 weeks, and took part in a computerized neurocognitive function test, and were monitored for changes in blood concentrations of certain biomarkers associated with MCI and Alzheimer’s disease.
 
By the end of the study period, the researchers observed significant improvement in the verbal memory scores of adults in the supplementation group compared to placebo, and those in the supplementation group also had significant decreases in blood concentrations of amyloid-beta, a biomarker which is considered to be a predictive factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
 
“This study was the first of its kind as improvements in memory function in humans with supplementation of SOCE was clinically evaluated,” the authors of the study noted. “Moreover, SOCE, which is used as feedstock or compost, was identified as a functional material for treating older adults with memory impairment.”
 
However, the authors of the study noted that extensive investigations with a significant number of volunteers will be necessary in order to address the potential limitations of the present study, which included the use of a less-reliable method of measuring amyloid-beta concentrations that might not accurately reflect the intensity of Alzheimer’s disease risk.