Higher Plasma α-Carotene Was Associated With Better Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation Among the MIND Trial Participants
Brain Health
Year Published: 2021
Journal
Current Developments in Nutrition
Authors
Xiaoran Liu, Klodian Dhana, Jeremy Furtado, Puja Agarwal, Neelum Aggarwal, Christy Tangney, Nancy Laranjo, Vincent Carey, Lisa Barnes, Frank Sacks
Methods
This study looked at the association between plasma carotenoids and cognition among 295 participants at risk for cognitive decline and enrolled in the MIND diet study.
Key Findings
Key Findings: Results showed that high blood levels of α-carotene, reflecting higher intakes of certain foods including nuts, was associated with better cognition in a population at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease in the US.
Although nuts like peanuts do not contain high levels of vitamin A, it is possible that the fat in peanuts may increase the bioavailability and bioconversion of vitamin A.