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Dietary antioxidant intake and cognitive performance in middle-aged adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

James M Peacock
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, USA
Aaron R Folsom*
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, USA
David S Knopman
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Thomas H Mosley
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine (Geriatrics), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
David C Goff Jr
Affiliation:
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Moyses Szklo
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email folsom@epivax.epi.umn.edu
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Abstract

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Objective

To assess the cross-sectional association of dietary and supplemental antioxidant (carotenoids, vitamins C and E) intake with cognitive function in 12 187 individuals, aged 48–67 years, participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Methods

Dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins, as assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, and use of supplements were analysed in relation to the results of three cognitive tests, the delayed word recall test, the Wechsler adult intelligence scale, revised (WAIS-R) digit symbol subtest and the word fluency test.

Results

After adjustment for covariates previously found to be associated with cognition in this sample, we found no consistent associations between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake or supplement use and any of the cognitive tests.

Conclusions

This study suggests little, if any, association between antioxidant vitamin intake and better cognitive function in middle-aged adults.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2000

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