Added sugar and dietary fiber consumption are associated with creativity in preadolescent children

Effect of dietary fibre on cognitive function and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of dietary fibre on the mental health and cognitive function of children and adolescents. Methods: All interventional and observational studies that contained information on the relevant population (children and adolescents), intervention/exposures (high dietary fibre consumption) and outcomes (mental and cognitive parameters) were eligible. Eight electronic databases (Embase, Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched up to December 11, 2023. Results: A total of 15 studies (n = 4628) met inclusion criteria, consisting of 9 intervention trials and 6 observational studies. According to observational studies, higher dietary fibre consumption was associated with a 49% reduction in the odds of depression compared to lower intake (P < 0.0001; OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.69; I2 = 0%). Furthermore, no significant correlations were found between dietary fibre consumption and intelligence or anxiety. Among intervention studies, no significant difference was observed between fibre supplementation and placebo in terms of anxiety (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.23; 95% CI: -0.72, 0.27), stress (SMD: 0.03; 95% CI: -0.21, 0.28), memory (SMD: 0.46; 95% CI: -0.79, 1.71), or attention (SMD: -2.72; 95% CI: -6.30, 0.86). Conclusion: Evidence from observation studies demonstrated that higher dietary fibre consumption is associated with a decreased odds of depression symptoms, both in childhood and adolescence. However, the causal relationship between dietary fibre intake and mental and cognitive function in children and adolescents still requires further clarification through high-quality intervention studies in the future.

The Impact of Free and Added Sugars on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A relationship between excessive sugar consumption and cognitive function has been described in animal models, but the specific effects of sugars in humans remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the current knowledge, research characteristics, and quality of evidence of studies investigating the impacts of free and added sugars on human cognition in healthy participants. The review identified 77 studies (65 experimental trials, n = 3831; 9 cross-sectional studies, n = 11,456; and 3 cohort studies, n = 2059). All cohort studies and eight of the nine cross-sectional studies found significant positive correlations between added sugar consumption and risk of cognitive impairment. Four studies identified reduced risk of cognitive impairment associated with natural fructose-containing foods. The majority of randomised control trials assessed short-term glucose facilitation effects on cognitive outcomes. The results from these studies suggest the need for a tightly regulated blood glucose level, dependent on individualised physiological factors, for optimal cognitive function. A meta-analysis of a subset of studies that assessed the impact of glucose on recall found improvements in immediate free recall compared to controls (p = 0.002). The findings highlight the potentially detrimental effect of excessive, long-term, or prenatal added sugar consumption on cognitive function. Further research is needed to examine the specific effects of free and added sugars on cognitive function.

Longitudinal Trajectories of Dietary Fibre Intake and Its Determinants in Early Childhood: Results from the Melbourne InFANT Program

BACKGROUND

Optimal nutrition during early childhood, including dietary fibre intake, is important for children's health and development. Knowledge of fibre intake and its determinants in early childhood is limited. We aimed to describe fibre intake and sources and to identify trajectories of fibre intake at age 9, 18, 42, and 60 months and its child and maternal determinants. Associations between fibre trajectory groups and BMI z-scores and child overweight status were also assessed.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Melbourne InFANT Program, trial registration: Current Controlled Trials (ISRCTN81847050). Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify trajectories of fibre intake from ages 9 to 60 months (n = 503). Multivariable logistic or linear regression was used to assess the determinants of fibre intake trajectories and the association between fibre intake trajectories and obesity outcomes.

RESULTS

Four fibre intake trajectory groups were identified, with three groups following stable, rising trajectories of "Low" (52.3%), "Moderate" (32.2%), and "High" (13.3%), respectively. The remaining followed an "unstable" trajectory (2.2%). Girls versus boys were more likely to follow the "Low" fibre intake trajectory, whereas children who were breastfed for ≥6 months and whose mother had a university education were less likely to follow the "Low" fibre trajectory. No association was found between fibre trajectory groups and obesity outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Most children followed a stable, rising trajectory of low fibre intake in early childhood. Child sex, breastfeeding duration and maternal education were significant determinants of low fibre intake trajectory.

Macronutrient intake during infancy and neurodevelopment in preschool children from the EDEN mother-child cohort

BACKGROUND

Although the deleterious effect of micronutrient deficiency at sensitive periods on neurodevelopment is well established, the potential influence of macronutrient intake on early life neurodevelopment of healthy term infants has been seldomly studied. We aimed to explore whether macronutrient intake at 12 months was related to neurodevelopmental scores in preschool children.

METHODS

Analyses were based on data from the EDEN mother-child cohort. Macronutrient intake was assessed by 3-day food records at 12 months of age. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 3 years using the French version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) (n = 914), and at 5-6 years, using the French version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third Edition (n = 785). An association between macronutrient intake and neurodevelopmental scores were analysed by multivariable linear regression for 3-year Full Score ASQ or 5-6-year intelligence quotient scores and multivariable logistic regression for 3-year ASQ subdomains.

RESULTS

Macronutrient intake in infancy was not associated with neurodevelopmental scores in preschool children. No association was found between PUFA intake and overall neurodevelopmental scores, after accounting for multiple testing.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, macronutrient intake at one year did not appear to influence the child's cognitive ability at 3 and 5-6 years. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between early fatty acid intake and neurodevelopment.

The Burden of Carbohydrates in Health and Disease

Foods high in carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet, since they provide the body with glucose to support bodily functions and physical activity. However, the abusive consumption of refined, simple, and low-quality carbohydrates has a direct implication on the physical and mental pathophysiology. Then, carbohydrate consumption is postulated as a crucial factor in the development of the main Western diseases of the 21st century. We conducted this narrative critical review using MedLine (Pubmed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase, and CinAhl databases with the MeSH-compliant keywords: carbohydrates and evolution, development, phylogenetic, GUT, microbiota, stress, metabolic health, consumption behaviors, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, mental disease, anxiety, depression, cancer, chronic kidney failure, allergies, and asthma in order to analyze the impact of carbohydrates on health. Evidence suggests that carbohydrates, especially fiber, are beneficial for the well-being and growth of gut microorganisms and consequently for the host in this symbiotic relationship, producing microbial alterations a negative effect on mental health and different organic systems. In addition, evidence suggests a negative impact of simple carbohydrates and refined carbohydrates on mood categories, including alertness and tiredness, reinforcing a vicious circle. Regarding physical health, sugar intake can affect the development and prognosis of metabolic disease, as an uncontrolled intake of refined carbohydrates puts individuals at risk of developing metabolic syndrome and subsequently developing metabolic disease.

Centenarian-Sourced Lactobacillus casei Combined with Dietary Fiber Complex Ameliorates Brain and Gut Function in Aged Mice

Dietary intervention could modulate age-related neurological disorders via the gut-brain axis. The potential roles of a probiotic and the dietary fiber complex (DFC) on brain and gut function in aged mice were investigated in this study. Lactobacillus casei LTL1361 and DFC were orally administrated for 12 weeks, and the learning and memory ability, as well as the oxidative parameters, inflammatory markers, gut barrier function and microbial metabolite short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), were investigated. LTL1361 and DFC supplementation ameliorated cognitive ability, attenuated oxidative stress in brain and inflammation in serum and colon, ameliorated gut barrier function, and increased the SCFA concentrations and gene expression of SCFA receptors. The protective effect was more significantly enhanced in aged mice treated with the combination of LTL1361 and DFC than treated with LTL1361 or DFC alone. These results could be associated with the protected morphology of pyramidal nerve cells in hippocampus of mice brain and the downregulation of apoptosis marker caspase-3 in brain and upregulation of tight junction proteins in small intestine and colon. The results indicated that Lactobacillus casei LTL1361 and DFC alleviated age-related cognitive impairment, as well as protected brain and gut function. Lactobacillus casei LTL1361 and DFC might be used as novel and promising antiaging agents in human.

The Impact of Household Chaos and Dietary Intake on Executive Function in Young Children

Children's executive functions (EFs) emerge over time and can be shaped by household environments and dietary intake. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how these factors influence EFs in children aged 18-24 months. This study tested a model exploring the relations between parent-reported dietary intake, household chaos, and child EF. The sample consisted of 294 families participating in the STRONG Kids2 birth cohort study of nutrition and child health. Caregivers completed the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function^®-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P) to assess model variables. Regression analyses revealed a significant and independent association between assorted snacks and processed foods and two EF subscales. There were also significant associations between household chaos and each EF subscale. There was no significant moderation effect. These findings suggest that family households characterized by dysregulation are associated with children's EF difficulties during early childhood and that the role of unhealthy dietary intake in child EF should be explored further. Future longitudinal studies that include multi-method approaches are needed to document the mechanisms through which household chaos impacts child EF over time.

Age-Related Cognitive Decline May Be Moderated by Frequency of Specific Food Products Consumption

Our study aimed to evaluate whether the type of food products and the frequency of their consumption are associated with cognitive functioning in younger and older adults. The impact of diets that are high in added sugars and saturated fat on cognitive functioning, especially on memory, was at the center of our interest. Participants in the study were 204 healthy adults (aged 20-55) who performed a multitasking cognitive test and completed dietary and psychological questionnaires. Stepwise regression analysis with age and food consumption patterns as predictors, and the cognitive task performance as a dependent variable, revealed that cognitive task performance worsened with age. However, we found that the frequency of consuming different types of foods (healthy versus unhealthy dietary patterns) moderates the effects of age on cognitive functioning. Red meat and animal fat consumption were negatively correlated with cognitive performance, and this relation was dependent on the age of our participants. Conversely, white meat and fish consumption were positively related to memory. Different indices of dietary patterns (both positive and negative) were stronger predictors of cognitive performance in the older adult group. We interpret our results as evidence that diet may be a protective (or worsening) factor in age-related cognitive decline.

Association between Creativity and Memory with Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Lifestyle among Chilean Schoolchildren

The objective was to investigate the association between creativity and memory with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; i.e., CFR classification and V˙O_2max); lifestyle parameters (i.e., physical activity (PA), sleep duration, screen time (ST), and food habits); and anthropometric measures (i.e., body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)) among Chilean schoolchildren. A total of 248 schoolchildren (137 boys, 111 girls, 11.80 ± 1.17 and 11.58 ± 1.09 years, respectively) participated in the cross-sectional study. Creativity, memory, concentration, and selective attention and lifestyle (PA, ST, sleep duration, and Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence) were measured using a standard questionnaire. CRF (measured by the 20 m shuttle run test and expressed as maximum oxygen consumption (V˙O_2max) and anthropometric measures (BMI and WC) were also included. Creativity showed a positive association with V˙O_2max (mL/kg/min) (β; 0.209, 95% CI; 0.02-0.40, p = p < 0.05) and MD Adherence (score) (β; 0.206, 95% CI; 0.01; 0.74, p = p < 0.05). Long-term memory reported a positive association with CRF (β; 1.076, 95% CI; 0.02-2.13, p = p < 0.05). An increase in CRF levels, together with healthy food habits and normal nutritional status, should be a target for community- and school-based interventions to promote cognitive development in creativity and memory among schoolchildren.

Going with the grain: Fiber, cognition, and the microbiota-gut-brain-axis

Healthy dietary intake has been acknowledged for decades as one of the main contributors to health. More recently, the field of nutritional psychiatry has progressed our understanding regarding the importance of nutrition in supporting mental health and cognitive function. Thereby, individual nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, have been recognized to be key drivers in this relationship. With the progress in appreciating the influence of dietary fiber on health, increasingly research is focusing on deciphering its role in brain processes. However, while the importance of dietary fiber in gastrointestinal and metabolic health is well established, leading to the development of associated health claims, the evidence is not conclusive enough to support similar claims regarding cognitive function. Albeit the increasing knowledge of the impact of dietary fiber on mental health, only a few human studies have begun to shed light onto the underexplored connection between dietary fiber and cognition. Moreover, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a key conduit for the effects of nutrition on the brain, especially fibers, that are acted on by specific bacteria to produce a variety of health-promoting metabolites. These metabolites (including short chain fatty acids) as well as the vagus nerve, the immune system, gut hormones, or the kynurenine pathway have been proposed as underlying mechanisms of the microbiota-brain crosstalk. In this minireview, we summarize the evidence available from human studies on the association between dietary fiber intake and cognitive function. We provide an overview of potential underlying mechanisms and discuss remaining questions that need to be answered in future studies. While this field is moving at a fast pace and holds promise for future important discoveries, especially data from human cohorts are required to further our understanding and drive the development of public health recommendations regarding dietary fiber in brain health.

Associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition among children

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition in mid-childhood.

DESIGN

Dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes were assessed using 4-d food records, and cognition was evaluated using the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The cross-sectional associations of dietary carbohydrate and fatty acid intakes with cognition were investigated using linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body fat percentage, household income, parental education and daily energy intake.

SETTING

The baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study.

PARTICIPANTS

A population-based sample of 487 children (250 boys, 237 girls) aged 6-8 years living in the city of Kuopio, Finland.

RESULTS

A higher dietary intake of fructose (standardised regression coefficient, β = 0·24, P < 0·001), total fibre (β = 0·16, P = 0·02) and soluble fibre (β = 0·15, P = 0·02) was associated with a higher RCPM score in boys. Other dietary carbohydrates and fatty acids, including total carbohydrates, glucose, sucrose, starch, insoluble fibre, total fat, SFAs, MUFAs, PUFAs, palmitic acid (C16), stearic acid (C18), linoleic acid (C18:2), α-linoleic acid (C18:3), arachidonic acid (C20:4), EPA (C20:5n-3) and DHA (C22:6n-6), were not associated with the RCPM score in boys. Dietary carbohydrates or fatty acids were not associated with the RCPM score in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher dietary fructose and fibre intakes were associated with better cognition in boys, but not in girls. Dietary fatty acids were not related to cognition in boys or in girls.