Cognitive performance is associated with macronutrient intake in healthy young and middle-aged adults.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine whether dietary intakes of macronutrients are associated with neuropsychological performance.


METHODS
Study participants were 3960 adults aged 20-59 years, who completed three neuropsychological tests and a 24-hour dietary recall as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Poor performance was defined as the test score below gender-specific 15th percentile.


RESULTS
While holding the energy percentages from different macronutrients, additional 100 kcal intake of energy was associated with a reduced odds of poor performance on serial digital learning test (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96, 0.99) and symbol digital substitution test (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96, 0.99). Compared with equivalent energy from carbohydrates, each 5% of energy from poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or total fat was associated with a reduced OR of poor performance on simple reaction time test (PUFA: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.63-0.95 and total fat: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.87, 0.99). Poor global cognition was associated with an additional intake of 100 mg cholesterol (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.23). These associations were more salient in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Habitual intake of macronutrients is weakly but significantly associated with cognitive functioning. These relationships are more evident in men.
Zhang
Jian
J
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. bvw2@cdc.gov
Mckeown
Robert E
RE
Muldoon
Matthew F
MF
Tang
Shenghui
S
D000328:Adult; D002151:Calorimetry; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D044469:Racial Groups; D012984:Software