Low Cognitive Function Is Strongly Associated with The Intake of EPA and DHA in Adolescent Female Football Players in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Cognitive function refers to an individual’s ability to process information, influenced by several factors, including genetics, the environment, and key nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids—specifically Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between EPA and DHA intake on cognitive function of amateur female adolescent football players in North Sumatra in 2024. Methods: The research design used was observational analytic involving cross-sectional design. The total sample that participated was 79 amateur female youth football players by filling out the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) questionnaire as a cognitive assessment and filling out the Food Recall for assessing EPA and DHA intake. The analysis used SPSS 29.0 software and the analysis of EPA and DHA food recall used the NutriSurvey application. Results: The results of this study indicate that there is a strong positive correlation between EPA and DHA intake and the cognitive function of amateur female adolescent football players, with a strong correlation value of r = 0.676 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Eicosapentaenoic Acid and DHA intakes are strongly correlated with cognitive function in amateur female adolescent football players. Focusing on increasing daily EPA and DHA intakes is expected to improve cognitive function, especially in female adolescent athletes.