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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids are directly associated with cognition in overweight children but not in normal weight children

Timo A. LakkaJyrki J. ÅGrenVirpi LindiEero A. HaapalaEero A. HaapalaTaisa VenäläinenAino-maija ElorantaAnna Viitasalo

subject

0301 basic medicinecognitionmedicine.medical_specialtyOverweightta311103 medical and health scienceschemistry.chemical_compound0302 clinical medicineRaven's Progressive MatricesInternal medicinemedicineHumansoverweight030212 general & internal medicineChildplasmachemistry.chemical_classification030109 nutrition & dieteticsbusiness.industryta3141fish consumptionGeneral Medicinemedicine.diseaseEicosapentaenoic acidObesityEndocrinologychemistryDocosahexaenoic acidCase-Control StudiesPediatrics Perinatology and Child HealthFatty Acids UnsaturatedArachidonic acidmedicine.symptomEssential nutrientbusinessPolyunsaturated fatty acidpolyunsaturated fatty acids

description

Aim Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential nutrients for the normal development of the brain. We investigated the associations between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and cognition in normal weight and overweight children. Methods The study recruited 386 normal weight children and 58 overweight children aged six to eight years and blood samples were drawn after a 12-hour fast. We assessed plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids using gas chromatography, cognition using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, and overweight and obesity using the age-specific and sex-specific cut-offs from the International Obesity Task Force. The data were analysed by linear regression analyses adjusted for age and sex. Results Higher proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma triacylglycerols (β = 0.311, p = 0.020, p = 0.029 for interaction) and docosahexaenoic acid in plasma triacylglycerols (β = 0.281, p = 0.038, p = 0.049 for interaction) were both associated with higher Raven's scores in overweight children but not in normal weight children. Higher eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ratios in triacylglycerols (β = 0.317, p = 0.019) and phospholipids (β = 0.273, p = 0.046) were directly associated with the Raven's score in overweight children but not in normal weight children. Conclusion These findings suggest that increasing the consumption of fish and other sources of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid may improve cognition among overweight children.

10.1111/apa.13596http://juuli.fi/Record/0278610216