Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that diet can modify the risk of future cognitive impairment and dementia. A biologically plausible rationale and initial clinical data indicate that the antioxidant activities of dietary carotenoids may assist the preservation of cognitive function. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to examine the relationship between carotenoid supplementation and cognitive performance. A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from their inception to July 2020. A total of 435 studies were retrieved. screening using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria was followed by full-text screening and data extraction of study characteristics and measured outcomes. A meta-analysis of eligible trials was performed using a random-effects model to estimate pooled effect size. We identified 9 studies with a total of 4402 nondemented subjects, whose age ranged from 45 to 78 years. Results of the pooled meta-analysis found a significant effect of carotenoid intervention on cognitive outcomes (Hedge’s g = 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.08, 0.20, p < 0.0001). There was no evidence of heterogeneity among the studies (τ2 = 0.00, I2 = 0.00%, H2 = 1.00) or publication bias. Although further studies are needed, our results suggest that carotenoid interventions are associated with better cognitive performance. Thus, these dietary compounds may help to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Highlights
Cognitive function encompasses a wide array of mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem solving, decision making, and attention
The full texts of the remaining 44 articles were examined for eligibility assessment, after which 35 studies were excluded for the following reasons: inappropriate statistical analysis (n = 20); cognitive functions not clearly determined (n = 8); non randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (n = 4); missing outcome data (n = 2); full-text article unavailable (n = 1)
We found that carotenoid supplementation may help to improve cognitive performance in relatively healthy participants aged 45–78 years
Summary
Cognitive function encompasses a wide array of mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem solving, decision making, and attention. Several cognitive domains associated with processing speed, working memory, and executive processes gradually decline, becoming slower and inefficient [1,2]. Long-term oxidative damage has a strong potential to negatively impact cognitive abilities [1]. In addition to oxidative injury, cognitive deterioration is the result of multiple and overlapping mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, neural cell loss, and hypofunction of the monoaminergic and cholinergic pathways [2,3,4]. The identification of specific interventions that may prevent the decline in cognitive function during this preclinical phase is crucial in terms of public health policy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
