Fruit and Vegetable Consumption is Inversely Related to Mild Cognitive Impairment among Older Adults

Abstract

Objective:This study was conducted to investigate the association between fruit and/or vegetable consumption with the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Korean older adults.Methods:Subjects were 729 (307 men and 422 women) older adults aged 60 years and older participating in the Yangpyeong Cohort Study between 2011 and 2012. Dietary intake was estimated by using a food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive function was evaluated by Korean version of Mini‐Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE‐DS). Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the associations between ‘Fruit', ‘Vegetable' and ‘Fruit and Vegetable' consumptions and the risk of MCI.Results:Age, depression score, proportions of current drinker and smoker decreased across the quintiles of ‘Fruit', ‘Vegetable' and ‘Fruit and Vegetable', but body mass index (BMI), total energy intake, fish consumption, proportion of higher education level and dietary supplement user increased across the quintiles of ‘Fruit', ‘Vegetable' and ‘Fruit and Vegetable'. ‘Fruit' (5th v. 1st quartile, OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24‐0.88, p for trend = 0.081) and ‘Fruit and Vegetable' (5th v. 1st quartile, OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.21‐0.84, p for trend = 0.029) intakes were inversely related to the risk of MCI after adjusting for potential confounder.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that high intakes of fruits and vegetables, but not vegetable, may have a beneficial effect on the prevention of MCI.