File Download
  Links for fulltext
     (May Require Subscription)

Conference Paper: Is better nutrition in childhood in a developing population associated with better cognitive function in later adulthood?: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

TitleIs better nutrition in childhood in a developing population associated with better cognitive function in later adulthood?: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
Authors
Issue Date2009
PublisherCambridge University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=DOH
Citation
The 6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, Santiago, Chile, 19 - 22 November 2009. In Journal of developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 2009, v. 1 n. S1, p. S97-S98 How to Cite?
AbstractObjective: There is growing evidence that early life exposures, such as childhood socioeconomic status, are related to later adulthood cognition. However, the specific aspect of early conditions underlying this association is not clear. Animal protein intake is positively associated with earlier walking in infants. Dietary supplementation with meat in infants and children in developing countries results in better cognitive function, independent of iron status. Protein energy supplementation with vegetables, milk and sugar (not meat) given from birth to 24 months in developing populations is associated with better cognitive function in early adulthood (mean age 32 years), especially amongst women. Inadequate childhood nutrition is associated with poor short term academic and cognitive outcomes. However, it is not known whether childhood nutrition has life long effects on cognitive function. We examined the association of childhood meat eating with adulthood cognitive function in southern China where the older population lived through significant hardship during their early years. Methods: Multivariable linear regression was used in a crosssectional study of 20,086 Chinese men and women aged >50 years from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (phases 2 and 3) 2005–8. We assessed the association of childhood meat eating with amnesic-MCI and delayed 10-word recall score. The 10-word recall is a test of new learning ability from the CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease) test battery which has been validated as a culturally and educationally sensitive tool for identifying dementia in population based research in developing countries. Amnesic-MCI was defined as a delayed recall score of 3 or less out of 10, corresponding to 1 standard deviation below the mean. Results: Adjusted for age, sex and education, childhood meat eating 1–6 days per week and daily childhood meat eating were associated with a higher 10-word recall score (number of words recalled 50.08 [95% confidence interval50.02 to 0.13] and 0.24 [0.16 to 0.33] respectively) and with lower odds of amnesic-MCI (odds ratio50.80 [95% confidence interval50.72 to 0.89] and 0.79 [0.67 to 0.94] respectively). Additional adjustment for childhood and adulthood socio economic position and current physical activity attenuated these findings, however daily childhood meat eating remained associated with a higher 10-word recall score (0.17 [0.08 to 0.26]. Conclusions: A diet that includes a small amount of daily meat in childhood (after infancy) may have long-term positive effects on cognitive function. If confirmed, these results highlight the importance of adequate childhood nutrition. Alternatively childhood meat eating may reflect a generally more cognitively protective childhood environment and nutrition. Irrespective, these findings also emphasise the childhood and adolescent antecedents of adult disease, with corresponding public health implications for healthy aging. Future research should examine the role of childhood exposures in long term cognitive development and if a role for childhood meat eating is verified, should elucidate the type and quantity of macro and micro nutrients that may be cognitively protective and the biological mechanisms behind these effects, so that preventive strategies can be implemented. Acknowledgements: The University of Hong Kong (HKSAR), Guangzhou Public Health Bureau (China), Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau (China), The University of Birmingham (UK).
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/129463
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 1.8
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.659

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorHeys, Men_US
dc.contributor.authorJiang, CQen_US
dc.contributor.authorSchooling, CMen_US
dc.contributor.authorZhang, WSen_US
dc.contributor.authorCheng, KKen_US
dc.contributor.authorLam, THen_US
dc.contributor.authorLeung, GMen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-12-23T08:37:40Z-
dc.date.available2010-12-23T08:37:40Z-
dc.date.issued2009en_US
dc.identifier.citationThe 6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, Santiago, Chile, 19 - 22 November 2009. In Journal of developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 2009, v. 1 n. S1, p. S97-S98en_US
dc.identifier.issn2040-1744-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/129463-
dc.description.abstractObjective: There is growing evidence that early life exposures, such as childhood socioeconomic status, are related to later adulthood cognition. However, the specific aspect of early conditions underlying this association is not clear. Animal protein intake is positively associated with earlier walking in infants. Dietary supplementation with meat in infants and children in developing countries results in better cognitive function, independent of iron status. Protein energy supplementation with vegetables, milk and sugar (not meat) given from birth to 24 months in developing populations is associated with better cognitive function in early adulthood (mean age 32 years), especially amongst women. Inadequate childhood nutrition is associated with poor short term academic and cognitive outcomes. However, it is not known whether childhood nutrition has life long effects on cognitive function. We examined the association of childhood meat eating with adulthood cognitive function in southern China where the older population lived through significant hardship during their early years. Methods: Multivariable linear regression was used in a crosssectional study of 20,086 Chinese men and women aged >50 years from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (phases 2 and 3) 2005–8. We assessed the association of childhood meat eating with amnesic-MCI and delayed 10-word recall score. The 10-word recall is a test of new learning ability from the CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease) test battery which has been validated as a culturally and educationally sensitive tool for identifying dementia in population based research in developing countries. Amnesic-MCI was defined as a delayed recall score of 3 or less out of 10, corresponding to 1 standard deviation below the mean. Results: Adjusted for age, sex and education, childhood meat eating 1–6 days per week and daily childhood meat eating were associated with a higher 10-word recall score (number of words recalled 50.08 [95% confidence interval50.02 to 0.13] and 0.24 [0.16 to 0.33] respectively) and with lower odds of amnesic-MCI (odds ratio50.80 [95% confidence interval50.72 to 0.89] and 0.79 [0.67 to 0.94] respectively). Additional adjustment for childhood and adulthood socio economic position and current physical activity attenuated these findings, however daily childhood meat eating remained associated with a higher 10-word recall score (0.17 [0.08 to 0.26]. Conclusions: A diet that includes a small amount of daily meat in childhood (after infancy) may have long-term positive effects on cognitive function. If confirmed, these results highlight the importance of adequate childhood nutrition. Alternatively childhood meat eating may reflect a generally more cognitively protective childhood environment and nutrition. Irrespective, these findings also emphasise the childhood and adolescent antecedents of adult disease, with corresponding public health implications for healthy aging. Future research should examine the role of childhood exposures in long term cognitive development and if a role for childhood meat eating is verified, should elucidate the type and quantity of macro and micro nutrients that may be cognitively protective and the biological mechanisms behind these effects, so that preventive strategies can be implemented. Acknowledgements: The University of Hong Kong (HKSAR), Guangzhou Public Health Bureau (China), Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau (China), The University of Birmingham (UK).-
dc.languageengen_US
dc.publisherCambridge University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=DOH-
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseaseen_US
dc.rightsJournal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Copyright © Cambridge University Press.-
dc.titleIs better nutrition in childhood in a developing population associated with better cognitive function in later adulthood?: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Studyen_US
dc.typeConference_Paperen_US
dc.identifier.openurlhttp://library.hku.hk:4550/resserv?sid=HKU:IR&issn=2040-1744&volume=1&issue=S1&spage=S84&epage=&date=2009&atitle=Is+better+nutrition+in+childhood+in+a+developing+population+associated+with+better+cognitive+function+in+later+adulthood?:+The+Guangzhou+Biobank+Cohort+Study-
dc.identifier.emailHeys, M: m_heys@lycos.comen_US
dc.identifier.emailJiang, CQ: cqjiang@HKUCC.hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.emailSchooling, CM: cms1@hkucc.hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.emailZhang, WS: zhangws9@HKUCC-COM.hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.emailCheng, KK: chengkk@HKUCC.hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.emailLam, TH: hrmrlth@hkucc.hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.emailLeung, GM: gmleung@hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.authorityHeys, M=rp00257en_US
dc.identifier.authoritySchooling, CM=rp00504en_US
dc.identifier.authorityLam, TH=rp00326en_US
dc.identifier.authorityLeung, GM=rp00460en_US
dc.description.naturepublished_or_final_version-
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S2040174409990067-
dc.identifier.hkuros176419en_US
dc.identifier.hkuros184312-
dc.identifier.volume1en_US
dc.identifier.issueS1en_US
dc.identifier.spageS84en_US
dc.identifier.epageS84-
dc.identifier.issnl2040-1744-

Export via OAI-PMH Interface in XML Formats


OR


Export to Other Non-XML Formats